Repercussions of Papadakis' book & Cizeron's response

[Allskate]

"NBC shouldn’t have fired Olympic gold medalist Gabriella Papadakis. They should be thrilled to have her on board to discuss the issues of abuse, power and control in figure skating in her new book."

Unfortunately, that wasn't what Gabi was hired for. NBC doesn't want to have such a discussion. Sadly, Gabi is not the only one to experience this. Skaters in the U.S. have, and NBC has shown little interest in covering it. They definitely don't want to talk about it while they're trying to get viewers for Olympic figure skating.

Christine Brennan, of course, loves the drama. But, I'm all for shedding a light on these serious issues with the hope that things improve and that parents put their kids into skating with their eyes wide open.

 

[LilJen]

The reason for Tanith divorcing Charlie.

No more Mr. Golden Retriever.

 

[Bigbird]

Guillaume and Laurence truly are amazing. That was great. From just watching the skating you'd not know there was some other stuff going on.

I'm saddened to see what's happened with Gabi and Guillaume. An amazing duo on the ice, to... this. I never imagined all that was going on and the negative feelings obviously very close to the surface. I thought since they'd been together since childhood, with all their shared history, there would be a certain level of connection that nothing could break apart. Obviously not. Well, I wish him the best at Olys, and I hope she's able to come to terms with her history... because it sounds like a work in progress, from where I sit. She's had a very rough go and I wish her peace moving forward.

It was obvious for a long time though that they weren't friends. They moved in different orbits. They had different friends, and different values. But as per earlier sentiments may she rise above this.

 

[Bigbird]

The reason for Tanith divorcing Charlie.

Is this fake news?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Is this fake news?

This is FSU. If it was, someone would say so.

 

[Bigbird]

Continued, vocal support of, even.

There's also the point that when Gabi started skating in shows with Madi Hubbell some interviewers were straight up asking her if she'd asked Guillaume for permission to skate with somebody else - after their partnership had been formally dissolved - while I don't recall seeing any commentator ask the same question of him when he started skating with Laurence. If it were me, I think that casting of her in the public mind as being not just permanently linked to but subordinate to him even once they had nothing more to do with each other would probably make his ability to just pick up and carry on without anyone blinking rankle more than a bit!

I think this is the challenge with most female partners, separating your true identity from your role of prop on the ice. Sometimes it plays tricks on the mind.

 

[SamChez]

Christine Brennan's 2 tweets today: https://x.com/cbrennansports/status/2012607905099366881

Link to the "Milan Magic" podcast thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/milan-magic-podcast-with-brennan-boitano.113602/

Bumping this because it was on a page turn, which folks here tend to miss

 

[Coco]

She wants to be an ice dance commentator, not a political activist

 

[marshallpond]

The book is about Gabi's tough life -- from her childhood where they hardly had any money, to a very crazy skating mom to her insecurity, drugs, alcohol, abortion. She was drinking at a very young age. One time she woke up and she didn’t know how she was covered in cocaine. What she wrote was a very sad life story.

But I guess the book marketing (especially the strategy of dropping excerpts here and there) veered towards the dynamics with Guillaume as that will make the book get talked about even more. Makes a great story that the ex-partner is a strong contender for an Olympic gold medal with a new partner.

 

[overedge]

I think this is the challenge with most female partners, separating your true identity from your role of prop on the ice. Sometimes it plays tricks on the mind.

It sounds from the quote you're responding to like it was the journalists that couldn't separate Gabi from her identity as Guillaume's partner. Gabi was already redefining herself by moving on.

 

[PRlady]

I’m completely unshocked at Brennan’s take and wonder if she will be interviewed by NBC during the Olys. I’ll bet not, they’re afraid she will criticize them and she has the stature to do it.

Who are the B/S Scott disliked? Can’t figure it out. And fwiw I think Johnnny’s report was well within the bounds of commentating. He’s not a wire service that has to stick to just the facts.

 

[aemeraldrainc]

Who are the B/S Scott disliked? Can’t figure it out. And fwiw I think Johnnny’s report was well within the bounds of commentating. He’s not a wire service that has to stick to just the facts.

I’m assuming Bereznahya and Sikhuradlidze.

 

[TAHbKA]

Yes this. Didn't f/b see this? Did she want a chance at a more successful career than she had at all costs?

She switched 2 countries for a career by now, ruined her health and spent her whole life skating. Of course she does want a successful career and skating with Cizeron is a certain mesal

Does she not have an ounce of compassion to how this looked?

Should she care? If she wins a gold medal its a gold medal and it will look good on her neck

Did she think 2 self involved men had her best interests at heart here?

They all seem to have the same interest - to win. And I should hope her fiance and her best friend should have her best interest at heart there

I am just gobsmacked that there wasn't one person that said this isn't really a good thing. Get rid of Sorenson, distance yourself from MTL and maybe say something complimentary about your former partner. Be a human. Be an inspiration not a cautionary tale.

She will be much more of an inspiration if she wins the Olympics

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

NBC shouldn’t have fired Olympic gold medalist Gabriella Papadakis. They should be thrilled to have her on board to discuss the issues of abuse, power and control in figure skating in her new book.

I'm sure NBC spectators would be thrilled to have this discussion on air during the FD.

 

[Wyliefan]

She switched 2 countries for a career by now, ruined her health and spent her whole life skating.

Ruined her health?

 

[TAHbKA]

Ruined her health?

Show me one Olympic level skater with healthy back, healthy knees and I'll believe you

 

[pat c]

whole post

Yeah I know. It was kind of a rhetorical rant in a way.

 

[Wyliefan]

Show me one Olympic level skater with healthy back, healthy knees and I'll believe you

Oh, got it. I thought you meant she'd contracted some major illness at some point.