Dancing on Ice judge Johnny Weir recalled a “mortifying” conversation he had with an agent about his career – right in front of his mother.
The two-time Olympian made his debut on the ITV show last month – replacing Ashley Banjo. At the time, dancer Ashley took a step back from the show to concentrate on touring commitments with his dance group Diversity.
And it’s fair to say Johnny has become a hit with the show’s loyal legion of viewers. Prior to his stint on Dancing on Ice though, Johnny already had an award-winning and successful career.
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He has bagged two Olympic medals and won the U.S national champion – making him the first skater to achieve this feat in more than two decades. Johnny has also competed at the Winter Olympics in 2006 and 2010.
(Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He ended up retiring from competitive skating in 2013, and went on to become a TV judge on US series Skating With The Stars. He then appeared as a contestant in the American version of Strictly – Dancing with the Stars.
However, it wasn’t always an easy ride for Johnny – who is openly gay. Back in 2020, he revealed how he was told he “can’t be gay” if he wanted to succeed in figure skating.
(Image: Getty Images)
He revealed on episode of Dancing with the Stars: “I had just turned 16 and I was competing internationally at the Olympic level. An agent approached me with my mom and said the world is your oyster and we’re the agency that can take you where you want to be.
“But he then looked at me and my mom and he said if you work with us and we create this future for you, you can’t be gay.” Johnny at the time had not come out yet. He added: “And at 16 standing with your mother that isn’t necessarily a topic that you want to address.”
(Image: Getty Images)
The TV star went on: “My sexuality was not something that I’d really voiced because you’re afraid of how something that is just inside you will affect other people and you can’t fix that. You can’t change that.”
Johnny then recalled how embarrassed he was about the situation. He said: “I was mortified and I remember going up to our room and my mom just said, ‘we don’t need them.
“‘You’re just going to skate really well, you’re gonna book the jobs by yourself.’ I used all of that negativity to my advantage and became a national champion.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
