Homophobic, racist Russian Olympian wishes death on Adam Rippon for donating to a Black trans charity
Adam Rippon (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
A Russian Olympic figure skater has branded gay athlete Adam Rippon “Earth’s mistake” and wished death upon him.
Adam Rippon, the gay Olympic bronze medallist who came to national prominence at the 2018 Winter Olympics, attracted the attention of Russia’s Alexei Yagudin after he made a $1,000 donation to The Okra Project, a charity that provides food for Black transgender people.
Writing on his Instagram Story, 2002 Olympic champion Alexei Yagudin branded Rippon “awful and disgusting”, adding: “Adam! When will you die? Earth’s mistake!”
Adam Rippon calls out homophobic Olympic champion.
In a video responding to the comments, Rippon explained he has decided to speak out because although “nobody cares what Alexei Yagudin has to say… his ignorance is honestly shared by so many people who are still in sports”.
He continued: “We’ve come a very long way, but we have such a long way still to go.
“I think sometimes people are surprised that I was the first openly gay person to compete in figure skating for Team USA at the Olympics, and this is just an excellent example of why so many people feel uncomfortable and afraid to share who they are.
“There are people who are really famous within their sport, and are also homophobic, transphobic and racist.”
Russian figure skater Alexei Yagudin (Natalia FedosenkoTASS via Getty Images)
Rippon noted that Yagudin has made other anti-LGBT+ comments in the past, “but this is the first time he’s ever said anything about me, and that was his mistake.”
He continued: “Alexei I don’t hope you die, but I do hope that your world doesn’t continue to be so small, and centred around something that you did 18 years ago which left you with two bad hips.”
Alexei Yagudin ‘can shove apology up his a**’, gay skater says
The gay activist noted that Yagudin has apologised for wishing Rippon dead while defending the anti-LGBT+ content of his messages.
Rippon added: “He said he was sorry for saying that he wished that I was dead… wow, thank you! I don’t accept his apology because I don’t want it.
“He can take his apology, his homophobia, his transphobia, his racism and his Olympic gold medal and shove them all the way up his entire a**.
“To my LGBT+ plus family in Russia, in sports and everywhere, I just want you to know that you are perfect just the way you are, and don’t let anyone try and convince you otherwise.”
Rippon revealed that in response to the row, he has decided to make a further $1,000 donation to The Okra Project in the name of Alexei Yagudin.
He added: “In closing, don’t f**k with me, Black Trans Lives Matter, and happy Pride everyone!”
