U.S. Ladies [#25]: Method in the Madness

[VGThuy]

Don’t worry, nobody believes in AllKPOP. Everyone knows they’re the most misleading news outlet for Korean entertainment.

Are you sure? On the twitter thread that they posted that linked to that article, so many of the skating fans and others who have been bashing Bell all day in the name of being Lim's "protector" have jumped in on it and used it to further the #RacistMariahBell, bully Mariah Bell narrative. They really believe she did something on purpose and failed to apologize for it coupled with bullying Lim this whole time.

 

[natsulian]

IDK who they are, it was the first article that came up when I googled.

In the past they’ve come under fire for reporting rumors without any base arguments. KPop fans mistrust them, and as you can see from the comments underneath on their Twitter account, a lot of people are either saying it was an accident or angered by them reporting rumors once again.

 

[natsulian]

Are you sure? On the twitter thread that they posted that linked to that article, so many of the skating fans and others who have been bashing Bell all day in the name of being Lim's "protector" have jumped in on it and used it to further the #RacistMariahBell, bully Mariah Bell narrative. They really believe she did something on purpose and failed to apologize for it coupled with bullying Lim this whole time.

Well, if they were already on the hate bandwagon, why get off now when there’s even more fuel to the fire? Honestly a lot of people don’t trust them, and those who do comment were already on the band-wagon. The scary part is, because they report rumors, they do get a lot of clicks.

 

[believed]

1. Please stop saying that just because Mariah doesn’t look like a bully, she can’t be one. Maybe she isn’t, but appearances and public personas can be misleading.

2. Re: the idea that this is made up for attention????????? What does Eunsoo stand to gain from this if this is false? How does brief attention (a very weird claim, btw!!! And kind of gross!!!) compare to their client’s loss of reputation if this is false? Mariah is a skater for one of the biggest federations, Eunsoo is not.

3. So far there are multiple NON-tabloid Korean language sources about this. People are reading the news from there.

 

[VGThuy]

Well, if they were already on the hate bandwagon, why get off now when there’s even more fuel to the fire? Honestly a lot of people don’t trust them, and those who do comment were already on the band-wagon.

It just seems the vast majority of the comments are taking that article at face value or read it and think Mariah is now evil.

 

[VGThuy]

1. Please stop saying that just because Mariah doesn’t look like a bully, she can’t be one. Maybe she isn’t, but appearances and public personas can be misleading.

2. Re: the idea that this is made up for attention????????? What does Eunsoo stand to gain from this if this is false? How does brief attention (a very weird claim, btw!!! And kind of gross!!!) compare to their client’s loss of reputation if this is false? Mariah is a skater for one of the biggest federations, Eunsoo is not.

3. So far there are multiple NON-tabloid Korean language sources about this. People are reading the news from there.

I agree with number 1, but that doesn't mean all character reputation testimony is useless as people who know her personally would have better information about the kind of person she is than those on the Internet who don't know her at all. That said, just because someone is nice to you doesn't mean they can't be guilty of bad behavior towards someone else.

Number 2, no comment. I rather wait until I read a full-fledged complaint detailing what exactly they are accusing Bell of or hear it from Lim herself. I also rather wait until Bell has the opportunity to speak and confront her accusers and allegations. Also, what does being from a big federation/small federation have to do with anything? I've seen repeated today, but I don't get what the point is. It's not like Lim is or isn't going to do something because a federation that has no control over her in any way is bigger in figure skating. Plus, it's not like South Korea is the South African Federation or anything.

Number 3, people have their reasons for waiting until they hear more from OTHER sources, especially when it comes to reports like this. We all know one story/narrative gets pushed or reported and every publication picks it up and puts their spin on it. There's a reason many are skeptical about Korean news sources until further verification.

 

[ballettmaus]

That may absolutely be the case, HOWEVER, the fact that Adam or Nathan are not aware of bullying or think the rink is “super-friendly” is irrelevant. Lots of people work day after day in workplaces where someone is being harassed and or assaulted and the people around never know.

This is skating we're talking about though. The skating world - just like many sports and art worlds - is most likely a very small place and I think it's not unreasonable to assume that other skaters would have heard something, especially if they train at the same rink.

 

[Spun Silver]

I just can't believe this without actual evidence or admission of wrongdoing. I love both Mariah and Eunsoo, as well as Raf. I can't think anything bad about either one of them.

 

[believed]

I agree with number 1, but that doesn't mean all character reputation testimony is useless as people who know her personally would have better information about the kind of person she is than those on the Internet who don't know her at all. That said, just because someone is nice to you doesn't mean they can't be guilty of bad behavior towards someone else.

Number 2, no comment. I rather wait until I read a full-fledged complaint detailing what exactly they are accusing Bell of or hear it from Lim herself. I also rather wait until Bell has the opportunity to speak and confront her accusers and allegations. Also, what does being from a big federation/small federation have to do with anything? I've seen repeated today, but I don't get what the point is. It's not like Lim is or isn't going to do something because a federation that has no control over her in any way is bigger in figure skating. Plus, it's not like South Korea is the South African Federation or anything.

Number 3, people have their reasons for waiting until they hear more from OTHER sources, especially when it comes to reports like this. We all know one story/narrative gets pushed or reported and every publication picks it up and puts their spin on it. There's a reason many are skeptical about Korean news sources until further verification.

1. I agree, but I dislike the way people have tossed around this as a way to say this could never have happened.

2. That’s fair! And imo I just think Eunsoo would have less backing in a conflict like this when compared to someone like Mariah — not by whether or not the fed will support them, but when whether or not any action can be taken — because of which fed they support.

3. And a lot of people are dismissing the sources because they’re just Korean sources. That doesn’t sit right with me either. I do, of course, hope that we get more news sources so that we know (as best as it can be ascertained, which it may not be) what happened/has been happening!

 

[Vagabond]

I agree with number 1, but that doesn't mean all character reputation is useless as people who know her personally would have better information about the kind of person she is than those on the Internet who don't know her at all. That said, just because someone is nice to you doesn't mean they can't be guilty of bad behavior towards someone else.

The suggestion that Mariah Bell has been a bully toward Eunsoo Lim implies either that (1) Lim hasn't told her coach, Rafael Arutunian, or anyone else working Arutunian, including other coaches and skaters or (2) Lim has told them and they haven't done anything about it even though the coaches are mandatory reporters and that she hasn't told USFS or SafeSport herself.

Both of these possibilities strike me as exceedingly far-fetched. The sort of behavior being described in this thread isn't even remotely like a sexual relationship between two skaters or between coach and skater that could easily occur entirely outside the context of a training rink.

 

[frog1981]

I just feel bad for Eunsoo too. Is her leg okay? I saw several photos taken before and after the incident, but I can't say someone intentionally hurt somebody else based on those photos. But, I also think Mariah should've stopped her run-through and checked her teammate who got injured by her blade.

 

[snoopy]

The suggestion that Mariah Bell has been a bully toward Eunsoo Lim implies either that (1) Lim hasn't told her coach, Rafael Arutunian, or anyone else working Arutunian, including other coaches and skaters or (2) Lim has told them and they haven't done anything about it even though the coaches are mandatory reporters and that she hasn't told USFS or SafeSport herself.

^this.

There are places for this to be litigated and it is not in the press or by the masses. The proper course of action is at the rink and official skating channels.

 

[believed]

The suggestion that Mariah Bell has been a bully toward Eunsoo Lim implies either that (1) Lim hasn't told her coach, Rafael Arutunian, or anyone else working Arutunian, including other coaches and skaters or (2) Lim has told them and they haven't done anything about it even though the coaches are mandatory reporters and that she hasn't told USFS or SafeSport herself.

It has been reported that they have been given separate locker rooms/practice sessions and that Mariah has been given a warning, which I would assume are the actions the rink/Raf/whoever has taken in response to the ongoing conflict though.

 

[VGThuy]

Who runs the "Team Raf" official IG account? It seems that account highlighted Adam Rippon's response on Twitter in support of Rippon's take.

 

[UGG]

It has been reported that they have been given separate locker rooms/practice sessions and that Mariah has been given a warning, which I would assume are the actions the rink/Raf/whoever has taken in response to the ongoing conflict though.

Who is reporting this? Is it a neutral news source?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Well, Adam Rippon has chimed in saying the article is click bait and that none of this is true.

He has a few tweets saying that its basically all made up. None of it true.

If this is indeed what the era of fake news is coming to so so sad.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Can anyone rate Mariah's edge work? I was looking at her footwork and realized I had no idea if it was good or not. Thanks in advance.

 

[AnnM]

A little thing that I've been wondering about the story reported in the articles: the articles, as translated, say that the two skaters have been separated, even using separate locker rooms. Do the skaters at Artunian's rink use the locker rooms? At the rinks that I skate at which are also hockey rinks, the ice skaters do not use the locker rooms. Locker rooms are not assigned for freestyle ice. The exception I've seen is when the synchro skaters use the locker rooms before and after synchro team practice, but that's about it. Are things different at Lakewood, or in California in general?

Based on articles I read during the Olympics, I think using the locker rooms was a practice unique to Lakewood and probably will be done at Irvine as well. I'm not aware of other CA rinks that do the same. Maybe in El Segundo?

 

[RoseRed]

It has been reported that they have been given separate locker rooms/practice sessions and that Mariah has been given a warning, which I would assume are the actions the rink/Raf/whoever has taken in response to the ongoing conflict though.

If that in fact happened. Which we don't know. That's a claim made in some of the Korean articles, but on the other hand Adam has publicly said that they are not separated and use the same dressing room. There's at least a decent chance that he would know for sure (even if he was unaware of bullying occuring), since he still comes around that rink and has a lot of friends there.

 

[Vagabond]

It has been reported that they have been given separate locker rooms/practice sessions and that Mariah has been given a warning, which I would assume are the actions the rink/Raf/whoever has taken in response to the ongoing conflict though.

Reported by whom, and based on what sources? An interview with Arutunian himself? One with Eunsoo Lim?

*crickets*

Seriously now, any USFS coach who is taking these steps without reporting the reason to SafeSport is putting his career at risk. Does anyone seriously believe that Arutunian is so foolhardy, particularly in light of recent events involving John Coughlin?

 

[snoopy]

Let’s say Raf did separate them, it’s also possible he reported it. Then things were happening the right way. We wouldn’t know the details and we don’t have to know either. Lim’s team should follow proper channels and going to the press wasn't that - and it was bad form.

 

[eurodance2001]

So a 22 year old woman is bullying a 16 year old teenager to the point of assaulting her in front of all of the world to see and also potentially causing a serious injury to HERSELF for what .....????? Also, the same mutually shared coach has gone on IG story and has affirmed Adam Rippon’s comment/account of this issue so again ....???? Why is Lim still being coached by Raf if he’s so horrible and apparently allowing this to happen?
Lots to unpack here and NONE of it adds up..

 

[eurodance2001]

From Team RAF official Instagram story: https://instagram.com/team__raf?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=2xm1ls33ex7j

 

[Coco]

From Team RAF official Instagram story: https://instagram.com/team__raf?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=2xm1ls33ex7j

Will someone please translate this for old people who don't know how to use Instagram?

 

[Inessence]

So a 22 year old woman is bullying a 16 year old teenager to the point of assaulting her in front of all of the world to see and also potentially causing a serious injury to HERSELF for what .....????? Also, the same mutually shared coach has gone on IG story and has affirmed Adam Rippon’s comment/account of this issue so again ....???? Why is Lim still being coached by Raf if he’s so horrible and apparently allowing this to happen?
Lots to unpack here and NONE of it adds up..

Poor Mariah might want to disable or privitize her Insta account for awhile. I don't recall Oksana Baiul's collision with Tanja Szewczenko drawing this much ire...

 

[Rukia]

Just because it doesn't make sense for Mariah to bully Eunsoo doesn't mean it's not happening. It doesn't have to make sense.

There are things that don't add up at this point however.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

Is that instagram account genuinely associated with Arutunyan? When Raf has something to say, he speaks up loud and clear. It doesn't seem his style to repost someone else's comment with nothing other than an arrow pointing at it. I can't imagine he'd address a serious issue involving two of his skaters in such an unprofessional way.

 

[Teamgracie]

This isn’t appearing as news in any other places that normally would jump on a story, it’s just Twitter and other social media spreading it from that one questionable site. Well, and here. If it was for real it would be all over the sport sights. I feel sad for the skaters, such trash out there. What the heck are we turning into?

 

[eurodance2001]

Will someone please translate this for old people who don't know how to use Instagram?

If you click the link, the page will open up. Click on RAF’s picture and Instagram story will come up

 

[Firedancer]

Will someone please translate this for old people who don't know how to use Instagram?

It shows this tweet and Adam’s response with a red arrow pointing at Adam’s response.
https://mobile.twitter.com/lynnneposts/status/1108309832489066502
https://mobile.twitter.com/Adaripp/status/1108386883141156864