UPDATED: OMFG . . . Adam Rippon, Tonya Harding and Mirai Nagasu are on the DWTS' all-athlete cast

[Sasha'sSpins]

There were witnesses to alleged incidents of LaVona slapping Tonya in the face or hitting Tonya with a brush, especially when she was younger. Coaches and friends or former friends have commented on LaVona's inappropriate behavior throughout the years in interviews. It's hard, for me anyway, to not believe at least some of it when more than two or three witnesses say pretty much the same thing. But on the other hand, some of those friends, while pointing out LaVona's flaws or disturbing behavior, do also defend LaVona and point out that some of the alleged behaviors are not true or were exaggerated for the film. Was Tonya Harding's Mother Really A Monster

Tonya's mom herself admits to the hairbrush incident:
Tonya Harding, mother give different accounts of abuse, drinking

Article from 1994 in which people claim to have witnessed some of LaVona's alleged abuses against Tonya, both emotional and physical (like swearing and slapping her in the face, screaming at her across the ice and not allowing Tonya to go to the bathroom): 'Brutal' Mother Fueled Harding Drive To Win

So, imo, the movie is not entirely 'fiction' when it comes to LaVona.

 

[Erin]

That was really nice and fair actually. Too bad he ruined it at the end with that trailer comment. How lame and unfunny.

Why is it considered ok to mock and discriminate against so-called "white trash"? Not everyone is born into money.

Adam himself isn’t born into money so I don’t think he is criticizing that. His overall comments were pretty fair. No need to be over sensitive about it.

 

[once_upon]

His latest wife is a nurse. Probably making upwards of $45 an hour. He can leach off her now and doesn't need Tonya anymore.

Damn - nurses make $45/hour?

I don't know any nurses who make that much money. Maybe an APRN, I'd have to ask my cousin.

 

[pixie cut]

Damn - nurses make $45/hour?

I don't know any nurses who make that much money. Maybe an APRN, I'd have to ask my cousin.

An advanced practice nurse practitioner can make more than $45, but it depends on the area and the practice.

Registered nurses in big city hospitals average out around $45 an hour when you figure in double shifts and overtime. I guess I missed the part where Jeff G is married to a nurse. Somehow, I doubt his wife is an RN. More like a LPN or a nurse's aide.

 

[overedge]

Those other opportunities never came knocking for Tonya though or she would have skated in them. This is a woman who boxed just to make a few bucks. She would have accepted skating in low key, low paying events if they had been offered to her. I believe she was simply blacklisted by all of those producers or sponsors who paid for such shows and hired the talent - on every continent, the world over, wherever there was a touring ice skating show.

We don't know that they didn’t seek her out, or that she sought them out and was turned down. I can't see shows that are on the level of hiring overweight white guys to be Michael Jackson refusing to hire Tonya because she would bring a bad reputation to their show

 

[Inessence]

An advanced practice nurse practitioner can make more than $45, but it depends on the area and the practice.

Registered nurses in big city hospitals average out around $45 an hour when you figure in double shifts and overtime. I guess I missed the part where Jeff G is married to a nurse. Somehow, I doubt his wife is an RN. More like a LPN or a nurse's aide.

She’s an CCRN (Critical Care RN) with a BSN degree from OHSU according to the International Nurses Association website.

 

[pixie cut]

She’s an CCRN (Critical Care RN) with a BSN degree from OHSU according to the International Nurses Association website.

Then she probably averages $80,000 to $90,000 per year income. Jeff must be happy.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

We don't know that they didn’t seek her out, or that she sought them out and was turned down. I can't see shows that are on the level of hiring overweight white guys to be Michael Jackson refusing to hire Tonya because she would bring a bad reputation to their show

I didn't say that I knew that - I said that that is what I believe - that she was blacklisted, or producers were discouraged by others not to hire her imo. If ever she was sought out for an ice show I am absolutely certain she would have accepted.

 

[sp555]

Adam himself isn’t born into money so I don’t think he is criticizing that. His overall comments were pretty fair. No need to be over sensitive about it.

There's no need for you to be so over sensitive over my supposed over sensitivity.

 

[once_upon]

Then she probably averages $80,000 to $90,000 per year income. Jeff must be happy.

https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/critical-care-nurse-bsn-salary-SRCH_KO0,23.htm

I've been retired for 9 years, and never saw the type of salaries you are talking about. My niece is an NICU BSN RN with recognized accreditation and my cousin is an APRN with critical care experience. So what the hell do I know - obviously you have a better pulse on salaries.

 

[Japanfan]

There were witnesses to alleged incidents of LaVona slapping Tonya in the face or hitting Tonya with a brush, especially when she was younger. Coaches and friends or former friends have commented on LaVona's inappropriate behavior throughout the years in interviews. It's hard, for me anyway, to not believe at least some of it when more than two or three witnesses say pretty much the same thing. But on the other hand, some of those friends, while pointing out LaVona's flaws or disturbing behavior, do also defend LaVona and point out that some of the alleged behaviors are not true or were exaggerated for the film. Was Tonya Harding's Mother Really A Monster
So, imo, the movie is not entirely 'fiction' when it comes to LaVona.

I don't know whether the alleged behaviors are exaggerated, but LaVona was a damaged woman, so it makes that she in turn emotionally abused her child, be it physically or emotionally or both.

That being true, she deserves to be commended for the effort and sacrifices she put into her daughter's career. I loved the line in the movie when she said "That's a mother's sacrifice", because I think there was truth in it.

Even if her motivation for supporting Tonya's skating was selfish (i.e. wanting to profit from her daughter's skating as opposed to wanting Tonya to find happiness on her own terms), she still did put invest a lot of time and energy in Tonya. Many mothers would not have been willing to sew costumes by hand and sleep in their car at competitions to support their daughter's (or son's) skating. The children of such mothers would never get to the elite ranks to begin with.

 

[Japanfan]

Amen! My wife and I thank the Lord that Tonia would of not been allowed to do shows and did not get the invite's because it would of sent the message that an attempt at murderer could entertain good Americans at pure and clear ice events.

Oh FFS. Assault and murder are not the same thing.

It is not at all fair to Tonya Harding to make such a declaration. And she herself did not attempt anything.

 

[Japanfan]

Tonya Harding, mother give different accounts of abuse, drinking

Seems strange to me that someone would want to put brandy flavoring in their morning coffee.

I googled brandy flavoring, and it does contain alcohol.

 

[misskarne]

The one competition was Espn pros in 99, and Button wanted to invite her to world pros that year but the then reigning olympic champion from 98 turned annoying commentator refused to skate with her. I would of simply not invited Tara, but Dick wasn't strong enough to stay no to her.

That is flat-out delusional idiocy. To claim that Button should have chosen a washed-up skater with a gigantic chip on her shoulder and whom other skaters didn't want to skate with for a very good reason and who was five years out from her competitive career and would have been a PR disaster to handle over the reigning Olympic champion is absolutely ludicrous.

Any show producer with even the tiniest amount of a brain would have chosen Tara over Harding. It's moronic to even suggest that it should have been the other way around.

 

[jlai]

That is flat-out delusional idiocy. To claim that Button should have chosen a washed-up skater with a gigantic chip on her shoulder and whom other skaters didn't want to skate with for a very good reason and who was five years out from her competitive career and would have been a PR disaster to handle over the reigning Olympic champion is absolutely ludicrous.

Any show producer with even the tiniest amount of a brain would have chosen Tara over Harding. It's moronic to even suggest that it should have been the other way around.

Actually, I seem to remember talk about the injuries Tara had kept her from fulfilling her pro obligations. I remember she was in some pro shows, but she disappeared from the pro scene pretty quickly, AFAIR. But feel free to correct me if someone has better details.

 

[berthesghost]

How can one “correct” a subjective opinion? She was a pro headliner for 4 solid years. Idk, was that “quick”? YMMV. Yes, she had well documented issues with skating related injuries. But she was also pursuing an acting career and $speedy was waging a full on war to kill pro skating, plus the post whack bubble was bursting. All of these things were factors imo.

 

[cmk]

Tonya was still able to do 3loop (even though she missed it in the short in the 99 comp), 3sal, 3toe, and 2axel- the exact same content as the 2nd place World pro skater that year- Beilman. Surya was rarely landing anything harder than a loop as well (sometimes she would try triple flips, but her injuries cost her the lutz and flip for the most part), Tonia K had a flutz (not as blatant as Nicole's) . I would of preferred to see both Tara and Tonya in the competition. Tara had some overused pro competitive programs (did anyone like Genie in a Bottle?). I know Tonya's Zz top program was an old one . Liz Manley and Roz Summers were still getting pro invites despite not being able to do triples and sometimes even the 2axel any more. I actually think the ratings would of been higher with Tonya ( people would tune in simply because they hadn't seen her in a while), and Tara had been on a lot.

One of the reason pro skating died besides the isu trying to sabotage it was pro skaters skating to the same music too many times. Caryn Kadavy skated to "if you touch me like this" about a 1000 too many times. They also kept showing the same (mostly img with occasional invites to Rosenberg's sfx) skaters all the time instead of having different people at events. There were also pro skaters that shall remain nameless that would show up for competitions unprepared and say it didn't matter because they got paid the same regardless of placement. One pro comp even had an unprepared Yvonne Gomez compete instead of producing because someone pulled out and they needed a last minute replacement.

The last thing that put the knife in the back of pro skating was Sarah , Sasha, Chen Lu, and Bobek seemingly losing there ability to do any type of triple the second they turned pro. Bobek actually held on to the 3toe and 2axel longer than the other 3 mentioned though, and did do 2toe and 1 axel after. Saraha and Sasha often forgot to even try a jump in their programs. We even lost the Disson skating shows ( the showing the singer instead of the skater was annoying but at least it was something).

It is not moronic to prefer to see Tonya over Tara when Tara had already been on a million times before that year. There was one pro comp where she did a 3toe/2toe in the comp but the producers subbed in her warmup 3lutz according to someone that was there. I find it hard to believe, I even asked if she landed the 3toe and they said she did. She would of still been first regardless so I don't know why the producers would feel the need to pull that.

 

[Japanfan]

It is interesting to see how good Tonya actually is at dancing. I guess that working with choreographers, paying attention to posture and line and performing during a skater's competitive years translates pretty well to dancing, even years after their careers are over.

I too am surprised at how well Tonya can dance.

In addition to the things you mentioned, I'll bet she's been dancing a lot in Oregon bars since she was a teen!

 

[Japanfan]

What makes you think Nancy has let go of her anger? She just doesn't choose to give Tonya any more airtime.

I would think that she's let go of her anger because so much time has passed and she's moved on.

She married her agent, who was wealthy, and brought her own wealth to the marriage. The two had three kids and are still together, so the marriage appears to be working okay. Nancy's life has certainly not been without tragedy (the situation with her brother), and I'm sure she has had some rough times because of it.

But even so, she's got a lot more wealth and privilege than the majority of women.

I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a life in which earning income was optional, as has been the case for Nancy for a very long time SFAIK. I'm not saying that she hasn't earned income - I really don't know - but she certainly hasn't had to, and my understanding of her situation in years past was that her life focus was on her kids.

 

[bardtoob]

What makes you think Nancy has let go of her anger?

Who would assume that? I mean being a Disney Princess on parade pissed her off.

 

[Japanfan]

Who would assume that? I mean being a Disney Princess on parade pissed her off.

This may indicate that she is quick to anger or get irritated. It does not mean she is hanging on to anger from 25 years ago.

But she at least showed she was a genuine person in that parade. It was corny.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I too am surprised at how well Tonya can dance.

In addition to the things you mentioned, I'll bet she's been dancing a lot in Oregon bars since she was a teen!

I should hope Oregon does not allow teenagers in their bars, which usually are more for drinking than dancing, at least in my neck of the woods...unless there was a wall in such bars with a non-drinking side which is required by law in some states. And the dance floor was on the non-drinking side!

 

[Japanfan]

I should hope Oregon does not allow teenagers in their bars, which usually are more for drinking than dancing, at least in my neck of the woods...unless there was a wall in such bars with a non-drinking side which is required by law in some states. And the dance floor was on the non-drinking side!

My guess is they may have done when Tonya was growing up.

I grew up in a mining town and was at the bar at 16 with false ID. I changed the ID by cutting the plastic on the ID, using typewriter white-out to cover the actual birth date, and typing in a new birth date. Of course this would have been obvious to anyone who checked ID, but no one really did. This was a hard drinking town, and it was not a big deal that teenagers were in the bar. Fortunately I did not get into trouble with alcohol at the time - I just went to the bar for the scene.

Rural communities may have become stricter in terms of enforcing drinking laws in bars, but I would not be surprised if they had not.

 

[Inessence]

I should hope Oregon does not allow teenagers in their bars, which usually are more for drinking than dancing, at least in my neck of the woods...unless there was a wall in such bars with a non-drinking side which is required by law in some states. And the dance floor was on the non-drinking side!

I could have swore I read or heard a story in ‘94 about a teenage Tonya ditching practice to go to a rave or club. Her coach Diane went barging into the place to get her back. ? How embarrassing.

Someone tell me I’m not crazy. Stories were flying during that time.

 

[bardtoob]

But she at least showed she was a genuine person in that parade. It was corny.

It was not corny, it was commercial acting work creating a fantasy for children where she was both paid and an honored guest.

 

[sp555]

It was not corny, it was commercial acting work creating a fantasy for children where she was both paid and an honored guest.

Oh please - any parade is corny!

As she explained later, it was not the actual event that Nancy did not like. What she actually thought was corny was that they made her wear her Olympic medal on the float. She thought that was like bragging and it made her uncomfortable is all.

 

[gkelly]

I thought Nancy's comment was that wearing her medal in public was corny but it got taken out of context

 

[bardtoob]

Either Nancy is just irritable or she is always out of context ... Let us consider her context ... She comes out of a very catty political sport ...

Goodness, even nice people, like Adam and Mirai, are experts in side eye bitchiness.

 

[Bellanca]

What remains at the center of it all regarding the two primary personalities involved in "The Whack Heard 'Round The World," (Tonya, Nancy) is that both women were/are considered to have an edgy, uncomfortable personality. Now, that is not to say that Nancy did not have a lot of support from the public, she did, and, of course, they knew Nancy was the victim. However, I do recall people commenting at the time, she could be off-putting and had a polarizing effect that came through via interviews or at public appearances, etc., resulting in some having difficulty warming up to her which caused them to remain sort of neutral because of it. So that corny remark Nancy made at the time did not help matters any.

Also, consider if Tonya and Co. had decided to whack the knee of someone like Kristi Yamaguchi… I don’t think that Tonya would ever be able to rehabilitate her image or recover from that scenario at all because of how beloved and well thought of Kristi is with her easygoing, approachable and warm personality, IMHO. That would have been like carrying out an attack on Mother Teresa. In other words, I believe that for many people, the likeability of the characters involved in an incident like this, for example, have a great deal to do with whether an image can be rehabilitated at any time in the future.

 

[alchemy void]

One of the reason pro skating died besides the isu trying to sabotage it was pro skaters skating to the same music too many times. Caryn Kadavy skated to "if you touch me like this" about a 1000 too many times.

HAT FULL OF STARS killed professional skating. (Unfortunately I couldn't find @escaflowne9282's tribute on youtube.)

Kadavy's Celine Dion program is iconic and stands the test of time!