Repercussions of Papadakis' book & Cizeron's response

[kedrin]

But the ex-partner of a gold medal contender is a bit different. I don’t think NBC realized or thought through the issues even before the book was published, but firing her was still a dick move.

Yes, there are definitely issues, but I do think it's easier when the issues are clear. Maybe the discussion about passive-aggressive behavior versus visible abuse is a good analogy: the conflicts of interest with Gabriella and Ben are pretty clear, and I even remember from time to time on air disclosures about skaters Sandra Bezic worked with. But when someone is commentating on skaters while possibly or not considering them for tours, or negotiating with them to appear in his tours, are we getting unbiased commentary? And about whom? Harder to prove bias, especially when the commentator might not even be aware of their own biases.

 

[overedge]

If Scott was employing skaters on his tour, or was likely to employ them, and then commenting on their performances, that IMO is a clear conflict of interest because of the financial implications. If he praised them, that might result in better ticket sales for SOI, and he would benefit from that. The same with Sandra saying wonderful things about programs she choreographed, which might result in more work for her as a choreographer.

It's a small world, and there are only so many people with enough knowledge and broadcast skills to do the job well. But that doesn't mean the conflicts can't be acknowledged, which they rarely are, or acted on appropriately. At least CBC seems to ensure that Carol Lane being G/P's coach is mentioned whenever she is commenting on an event with them.

 

[angi]

It's a small world, and there are only so many people with enough knowledge and broadcast skills to do the job well. But that doesn't mean the conflicts can't be acknowledged, which they rarely are, or acted on appropriately. At least CBC seems to ensure that Carol Lane being G/P's coach is mentioned whenever she is commenting on an event with them.

Carol Lane had very public meltdowns this season, calling out judges, athletes, and coaches, and resorting to name-calling, etc. As far as I know, she is still scheduled to be doing commentary for CBC at the Olympics (at least that's what I read). I think we don't need to rank the different types of conflict of interest and just acknowledge that they are very common in skating commentary.

 

[her grace]

Who is commenting on dance at the Olympics for NBC? Will there be no former ice dancer on the team? Belbin’s got the experience, but her own conflicts of interest. Maybe Maia Shibutani?

 

[Sylvia]

Who is commenting on dance at the Olympics for NBC? Will there be no former ice dancer on the team?

As of now, no ice dance commentator:

This might not be relevant if there was an agreement behind the scenes, or if specialists weren't included in the general press release, but NBC hadn't listed Gabi for their Milano-Cortina figure skating coverage as of January 6, according to this.

FIGURE SKATING
Terry Gannon, Play-by-Play [lead]
Bill Spaulding, Play-by-Play
Tara Lipinski, Analyst
Johnny Weir, Analyst
Andrea Joyce, Reporter

 

[Spiralgraph]

Get Ben Agosto or Susie Wynne.

 

[Sylvia]

Ben told me in St. Louis that he will be in Milan as a figure skating host in the arena.

 

[Sally1214]

There is a BIG difference between siblings squabbling, someone losing their temper and saying things they regret and a person screaming at another person for 15 ****ing minutes while the other person just stands there completely shut down. And then not apologizing afterward but excusing this abusive behavior.

Yes, I agree with your BIG difference comment. What I'm not understanding, as I read this thread is when people say (regarding Shibs) that their mother should have stepped in and done something about the way her son was treating her daughter. Maia is a 31-year-old woman who shouldn't need her mother to step in for her. Obviously, I don't have any idea as to Maia's mental state or self-confidence ... BUT I do know that, if my brother was going off on me like that, I would have not an inkling of a problem telling him that I would NOT be treated like that by him or anyone else and that I was ending the skating partnership now. When he was ready to apologize for being such a jerk and was ready to treat me with the respect I deserve, he would know where he could reach me.

 

[overedge]

Carol Lane had very public meltdowns this season, calling out judges, athletes, and coaches, and resorting to name-calling, etc. As far as I know, she is still scheduled to be doing commentary for CBC at the Olympics (at least that's what I read). I think we don't need to rank the different types of conflict of interest and just acknowledge that they are very common in skating commentary.

I think we do, especially when the conflict of interest might result in financial benefits to the commentator.

I also think we need to acknowledge that sports media usually do a terrible job in managing those conflicts ethically and responsibly.

 

[MacMadame]

Ben told me in St. Louis that he will be in Milan as a figure skating host in the arena.

Maybe he'll be promoted!

I also think we need to acknowledge that sports media do a terrible job in managing those conflicts ethically and responsibly.

Which is why I doubt conflict-of-interest factored into NBC's decision. I think it was their legal department being legal.

 

[Alilou]

Yes, I agree with your BIG difference comment. What I'm not understanding, as I read this thread is when people say (regarding Shibs) that their mother should have stepped in and done something about the way her son was treating her daughter. Maia is a 31-year-old woman who shouldn't need her mother to step in for her. Obviously, I don't have any idea as to Maia's mental state or self-confidence ... BUT I do know that, if my brother was going off on me like that, I would have not an inkling of a problem telling him that I would NOT be treated like that by him or anyone else and that I was ending the skating partnership now. When he was ready to apologize for being such a jerk and was ready to treat me with the respect I deserve, he would know where he could reach me.

But that's just you, what you would do. Walk a mile, etc . . . .
If you've been subjugated (probably your entire life) by a controlling mother who won't stand up for you, and an a$$hole entitled brother, how do you ever learn the inner strength and self-worth to set boundaries and stand up for yourself?
I know even as a 30 yr old I would have reacted as Maia did. It took me years to learn to set boundaries. You (and others) say what you would do, as if it's that simple. Oh she's an adult, as if one suddenly learns life skills they've never been taught as soon as they reach some magical age.

 

[Lara111]

I think her feeling of betrayal was not because Cizeron chose a new partner, but WHO he chose. Cizeron knew Gabi did not want to practice with Sorenson on the ice, and then teams up with Sorenson's girlfriend. I can see why she'd find that triggering considering her (and Gui's knowledge of) prior assau

I think her feeling of betrayal was not because Cizeron chose a new partner, but WHO he chose. Cizeron knew Gabi did not want to practice with Sorenson on the ice, and then teams up with Sorenson's girlfriend. I can see why she'd find that triggering considering her (and Gui's knowledge of) prior assaults.

Maybe, but it’s still his business, and his new partner isn’t at fault and deserves to continue her career as well.

 

[overedge]

Maybe, but it’s still his business, and his new partner isn’t at fault and deserves to continue her career as well.

I don't see anything indicating that Gabi doesn't want Guillaume to skate with anyone but her ever again, or doesn't want Laurence to continue skating.

As @peibeck suggested, the issue seems to be who Guillaume chose to skate with, and that person's association with another abuser. Not just that Guillaume has a new partner.

 

[canbelto]

This just sounds like a very sad breakdown of a relationship with no clear villains or heros. I will say that ice dance seems to have a lot of acrimonious breakups, and that seems to be something about the culture of ice dance.

Like even Tessa and Scott nowadays are occasional acquaintances. They didn't even attend each others' weddings.

 

[Sylvia]

Tessa Virtue on Instagram: "Quest for Gold helped make our careers possible. That support meant we were able to be present and focus entirely on our training. It allowed us the freedom to pursue extra practice time, bedazzled costumes, physiotherapy,

18K likes, 263 comments - tessavirtue17 on January 8, 2026: "Quest for Gold helped make our careers possible. That support meant we were able to be present and focus entirely on our training. It allowed us the freedom to pursue extra practice time, bedazzled costumes, physiotherapy, additional...

www.instagram.com

(V/M's paid partnership with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation in Canada)

 

[Orm Irian]

As @peibeck suggested, the issue seems to be who Guillaume chose to skate with, and that person's association with another abuser.

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!

 

[purple skates]

The rules in regard to pairs and dance give men an enormous amount of power, because they are scarce, and the good ones even scarcer. If they are good, they are groomed by the system from childhood to be entitled.

I would like to believe that most have family/support systems to combat that. I personally have known several elite-level male ice dancers who have had that support and who aren’t jerks, and none that are. Unfortunately, the system ignores the bad ones.

I have not read the book, only what’s been posted here and a few other links. It seems to me like Gabrielle is trying to expose the system, and her partnership is an example of that system. A system we are all well aware of, by the way.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Who is commenting on dance at the Olympics for NBC? Will there be no former ice dancer on the team? Belbin’s got the experience, but her own conflicts of interest. Maybe Maia Shibutani?

Charlie is currently unemployed.

 

[peibeck]

Maybe, but it’s still his business, and his new partner isn’t at fault and deserves to continue her career as well.

Yes, it was his decision. It's such a shame a talent like Cizeron had absolutely zero other female ice dancers on the planet to chose from and was stuck choosing his predator friend's girlfriend as a partner. I mean, tossing that in your twice raped ex-partner's face certainly doesn't come off as passive aggressive at all, does it?

 

[Rukia]

Charlie is currently unemployed.

lol i doubt nbc is going to want to touch that landmine

 

[peibeck]

Charlie is currently unemployed.

Maybe he could stay with his new Italian girlfriend or her parents?

 

[escaflowne9282]

Yes, it was his decision. It's such a shame a talent like Cizeron had absolutely zero other female ice dancers on the planet to chose from and was stuck choosing his predator friend's girlfriend as a partner. I mean, tossing that in your twice raped ex-partner's face certainly doesn't come off as passive aggressive at all, does it?

To be fair, it's actually Laurence with whom Cizeron has had a close friendship, IIRC, going back to before she ever met Sorenson.
I do still find it cringe considering his knowledge of Papadakis' being a rape survivor, but there ya go...

 

[Coco]

It could be, too, that the US Nationals coverage was a try out on how well Gabi came across to the audience--and if NBC was on the fence about it, this latest legal filing pushed them into their decision.

I think this is probably the most accurate speculation about why NBC parted with her.

"Defamation" is kind of a (dark) magic word for men since the Johnny Depp Amber Heard verdict, though. Cizeron's letter didn't help.

Although I'm curious as to what she wrote that he actually denies. He just seems to be upset that she's being negative.

 

[peibeck]

Gabi has been doing commentary for NBC/Peacock for over a year. I'm 99.999% sure her recent US Nationals commentary for that event had nothing to do with NBC's decision.

 

[Taso]

I think this is probably the most accurate speculation about why NBC parted with her.

"Defamation" is kind of a (dark) magic word for men since the Johnny Depp Amber Heard verdict, though. Cizeron's letter didn't help.

Although I'm curious as to what she wrote that he actually denies. He just seems to be upset that she's being negative.

I've been thinking this too, it isn't like he would have the inclination (or the time with other really important things to do right now) to read it to really actually know.

 

[canbelto]

I would love Scary Babs commentary.

 

[aemeraldrainc]

Reading this thread just keeps reminding me there's no Angry smilie :/