This is Dylan Moscovitch and his new partner Lubov Iliushechkina, who was at last released from Russia. Considering what partner switches often look like for the dumped partner - a sad, hot mess - my expectations weren't high.Then there was Skate Canada's attitude, which is really the point of this post. I've actually wondered from time to time if Skate Canada had encouraged Kirsten to dump Dylan, been a factor there, because, last we heard from Mike Slipchuk about Dylan and the whole Russian Fed/Lubov situation, it sounded like: "The entire topic puts me to sleep, but if you want a quote, I don't give a shit if they keep Lubov or let her go."
After learning Lubov had been released, I checked her out over the weekend and switched to "Geez, I hope Dylan's been keeping in form!" Today, I saw the above.Well, well, well.
I know Dylan's thirty, but the 2010 Olympic male pairs champion was 36. I think Dylan can hobble along til 2018.
I'm doing this post cause it's a Skate Canada thing. I'd like Skate Canada to announce that some of the money Scott and Tessa "are entitled to" but "declined", because they so generously wanted it to be available for other skaters, can be freed up for Dylan Moscovitch now that he's found himself such a terrific partner, and they look so promising together.
I know it doesn't work exactly that way, but since Skate Canada played it like it does work that way, encouraging all of us to be: "Oh thank you for giving up those funds you're not eligible for, Scott and Tessa", perhaps we can play along, and point out that Dylan Moscovitch has the exact same resume as Kirsten Moore Towers. Any Federation's high performance director can look at the embedded video above, and assess that Iliushechkina/Moscovitch have top 16 potential. I think Mike Slipchuk also has eyes.
Would also like to mention that a figure skater can be nominated retroactively for funding in the current AAP cycle. How about it Mike? AAP has rules and regulations, but a close reading does suggest that they're not exactly a police state when it comes to oversight, and also suggests that a retroactive carding nomination is well within bounds.
The IFS article talks about how Dylan's funding went AWOL while his skating future was in question, which I believe is how it works per Sport Canada/AAP policy. Maybe, though, it doesn't work per AAP policy, and it's as Skate Canada explained it with Scott and Tessa - the honor system. While his partner status was in flux, Dylan graciously "declined" the funding he was entitled to so that other skaters could benefit. An honorable group, these Skate Canadian skaters.
Now Dylan needs to scrape together some funding. He and his partner are also hopeful that they'll get an international assignment this season, late though it is, and though Skate Canada would have to get off its ass a bit. I don't know, Dylan.You and Lubov aren't bad, but you're no Jessica Dube/Sebastien Wolfe, whom Skate Canada threw opportunity at back in 2011.
 |
| Jessica and Sebastien when they were merely a promising new pairing. |
I await Mike's explanation that a couple of lower ranked bobsledders have already jumped on the money so recently set free by Virtue/Moir/Chan, never mind Skate Canada's press release said "so other skaters" could benefit, and far be it from him to interfere. He's like that, Mike. Sits on his hands a lot.
I still can't believe Russia agreed to release Lubov, I wonder what Skate Canada had to give in exchange?
ReplyDeleteIt's possible Slipchuck's apparent disinterest was due to not wanting to upset ungoing negotiations.
Slipchuk sure is disinterested in an awful lot of stuff.
DeleteShe's extraordinary, so I guess it's just a reflection of the dire men's situation in Russia? It appeared she had a few other options before settling on Dylan, but was still out of the game for two years, which means it was tough going in Russia, which is ridiculous for someone of her talent.
With Slipchuk, my comments are based on his past behavior. There's plenty of ways to show interest without implying pressure.
oc
I guess you haven't been following the whole saga...
DeleteShe had a rough sophomore year in seniors where she lost some weight and looked really miserable. She then abruptly left to skate with a French guy, publicly blaming her coach for mistreating her and her federation for doing nothing about it. The Russian fed wouldn't release her but offered to find her another Russian partner and coach; she refused. I think they realized she was never going to come back to skate for them but it's still surprising they agreed to release her. Maybe the fact that the girl who took her place is now in a life-or-death situation with severe anorexia has something to do with it, makes it harder to dismiss what she had to say.
In any case, Dylan lucked out; there had to be some very specific circumstances for a Russian skater of Lubov's calibre to be available.
2:29PM thanks for filling in. Lots of drama. Other Russian skaters have changed their coaching situation for the better and been vocal about it - Trankov for example. It's not just the partner switch; it's the environment. So it's possible to improve your situation inside the Russian Fed, at least arguably. In the IFS article she sounds extremely enthused about being in Canada, and on the ice with Dylan there's already a good connection. Of course they missed a few things but the essentials appear to be there in spades, good timing between them, no hesitation, blades close together, confidence that frees up movement.
DeleteI thought, Anon @2:29, if I am remembering correctly, that her coach made some remarks about Lubov's weight and that she wasn't working hard enough. (I could be wrong there) Lubov was tiny, and I remember being disgusted by the remarks. If it true what I remember, then the fact that the girl that took her place is fighting for her life at a clinic for eating disorders in Israel is pretty telling, as you said.
DeleteAnon at 6:41 here---To clarify: I think I remember that her coach made remarks about Lubov being too "big," which I thought was ridiculous and awful.
DeleteI don't for a moment believe it had anything to do with upsetting negotiations. I think it is what is so typical of this sport. Protect your own position. Don't do the right thing. If you do the right thing, you are likely to be ejected.
Delete"Protect your own position" pretty much sums it up. The sport is gross, it really is.
DeleteDon't they look just fab? I am so excited for this pair.
ReplyDeleteThere was some tension with her and the Russian fed. Something about her former coach and partner pressuring her eating (and now her replacement with them is seriously ill with an eating disorder.) She had a French partner that they wouldn't release her for. Don't know the details, though. I'm just so glad she's finally free to skate.
And Piper, FYI, this is what sincerity about Canada sounds like. You're welcome to become a citizen any time as far as I'm concerned, Lubov.
http://www.ifsmagazine.com/articles/32737-lubov-iliushechkina-dylan-moscovitch
Ah, thanks for adding much more detail than I could, 2:29!
DeleteWhen I watched her on youtube over the weekend, one the one hand I thought - what a fantastic pairs girl. On the other, I was wondering what she'd look like with Dylan; it was difficult to picture. They look just great. I just love how she carries her energy throughout the entire program, I just love the INTENTION in every move she makes - she registers as one of those skaters who just thrive so much on the ice; it's her true metier, you know she's going to do it. She just looks as if she knows exactly what she's doing. I really enjoyed Dylan's quotes in the article, from his description of how his team came together, his remark about wanting fresh eyes looking at his skating skills (loved that), to her landing a triple loop on the second day and them cancelling her return flight. The video quality isn't the best but I also get the impression Dylan's developing even higher quality stroking. They cover so much ice, and the transitions are so light and easy. Very excited for this team.
DeleteI certainly hope they express track Lubov to citizenship if that's what she decides. Apparently it was a matter of special/import special services to Canada for Piper to jump the queue - Sochi couldn't do without her what with Canada only having the defending Olympic Champions, Weaver & Poje and a fast-improving P/I to represent it. I expect an MP in Canada - or perhaps two - to find it every bit as important to personally petition for Lubov should the need arise.
DeleteI am sure her citizenship will be fast tracked considering Weaver and Gilles were, and Lubov has a far more impressive resume (World junior champion, Skate Canada champion, etc).
DeleteI don't think the resume was why Gilles was fast tracked.
DeleteI'm sure she was fastracked within SC, but I doubt the Gilles family ties/SC's ties led all the way to the federal government there.
DeleteThere was an MP that was her cheerleader, I'm quite sure it was beyond just SC. There's also nothing for SC to fastrack or not, as far as I understand? It's a government issue.
DeleteIt is, but I thought the federations also help get the ball rolling (but maybe I am thinking of other federations that get more involved, like the Russians). She has to prove that she can provide special services to Canada, so I assumed that SC had to be involved in some way to explain what her talents are and how they help Canadian skating.
DeleteExactly 7:24 PM. As we all know, nobody knows anything about figure skating except those IN figure skating, and they make sure nothing gets out. The government had no idea if Piper Gilles was a prospect to provide special services to Canada or not.
DeleteThey look wonderful together and I thoroughly enjoyed reading that interview. Way more class and talent than that twit Piper. Can we do a trade and send Piper back to the USA in exchange for Lubov? So hoping that Dylan gets his funding back.
Delete8:16 PM - there's no reason Dylan can't get his funding back. Skate Canada is selective though. I can't think of another federation that threw its champions, not even in their prime, under the bus the way Skate Canada did.
Delete^Their cheerleader MP didn't know if Piper provided special services either. Skate Canada provided the bona fides.
DeleteI'm 7:11, I didn't mean SC wasn't involved. I just meant all they had to do was hand the explanation to the government. There wasn't a administrative timeline and long queue within SC that Piper had to be fasttracked through on their part.
DeleteSo, best guesses as to their anniversary date? TEB ended on October 18, 2009 (they performed in the gala that day).
ReplyDeleteSkate Canada started on November 19.
I'm wondering if it's not today. We've had a tweet trying to place Tessa in TO already and then the tweet insinuating that Scott is in Manitoba. What better way to spend your anniversary? Of course they could both be home at their London house.
DeleteWhen they got back from TEB, they were married. They went from TEB to Monaco. They didn't go home and then back to Monaco.
DeleteI took that husbands thing as trolling. I don't think anybody was implying Scott was married to Kaitlyn. It's assholery.
Delete@ 6:24, It does seem like that.
DeleteNot only the open tweet about Tessa being in Toronto, but a new obviously photo-shopped picture as well. Scott in MB as "one of the husbands", no less, but don't forget the picture of Scott in KLawes in the Toronto Sun (re-tweeted immediately by herself).
That's a lot for one day. Of course, they could be just warming up. It remains to be seen what we may get the rest of the week. Perhaps this is only the beginning of the fun and games.
The hashtags were pretty gross. If I were Little Moir I'd really enjoy dad acting like he's "what's for suppering" and and #chores on the other side of Canada. But hey, what Little Moir doesn't know doesn't hurt her. Isn't that how Scott and Tessa were raised?
Delete7:05. They've never even hashtagged with such things as #girlfriend, boyfriend, lover, amoreux (like Jessica used to call him), etc.
DeleteNow they make the leap to #husband ?? What the hell are they thinking.
All it does is make them look like fools.
Does anyone know how it works to skate for a country for which you are not yet a citizen? Is it only for the Olympics that you have to be a citizen? Or Worlds as well?
ReplyDeleteYes, it's only the Olympics that needs citizenship. For other competitions, you need to be released by your previous federation and sit out a year. Since Lubov hasn't been competing since 2011(?), she can start competing right away now.
DeleteNot sure how it works if you want to represent a new country without either of the skaters being citizens, seems like there needs to be some heritage there.
I know this happens all the time, but it's just too hilarious to see yet another plea to report and shut down those awful, "bad" people who call VM liars (and other bad things). So rude and mean and *horrible*. The Saintly VM don't deserve such treatment!
ReplyDeletehttp://canyoufreakingjustnot.tumblr.com/
I love how these fans get so agitated over this and yet they themselves live in a VM fantasy-bubble they created. It's certainly not based on the myriad contradictions embedded in all of VM's public actions/words going back since they were teenagers.
Aaaw no, they're going after Sackett? Come on - the snark is epic! I loved the special Monaco/anniversary spam.
DeleteSpeaking offfantasy-bubbles, I saw a beaut on Tumblr, something to the effect that you can TELL from Tessa and Scott's body language that they haven't "worked out their relationship yet". Apparently all the little touches and longing glances are evidence that they aren't in a relationship....seriously. I'm guessing this person has never actually been in a real-life relationship with another person.
8:08. I haven't seen that one. Hahahaha
DeleteThese people apparently get their ideas of romance and true love from Disney movies and TV sitcoms. Good grief.
What a ridiculous circle-jerk. The shipper fans write and talk about VM as if they were fictional characters. In turn, VM use that shipper-talk/writing for ideas for their own shamming (i.e. see the reality show plot-lines, lifted right out of the shipper fanfics).
VM come out the losers though. Those fans are the same as a certain fan-segment of many celebrities. They'll grow up and leave their fantasies behind - no harm done. VM, on the other hand, are left with a trainwreck with no one to blame but themselves. The fans will have moved on, what about VM? Like someone said upthread, will they be too old to find readily available sham SO's like they have today, so they'll be pretending to be stepparents or have SO's that are years younger? What a lovely prospect.
The quasi-celebrity/near-notable circuit has an inexhaustible supply - Scott and Tessa will never run out of Jian Ghomeshis, Fedor Andreevs. It's just gonna look gross. I'm glad they know neither of their kids will be in skating or use the last name Moir if they do. I think they have clearly signaled they're in this til 2018 and when 2018 gets here they'll be all - didn't know it would come so fast, still don't have the guts, and besides we've got these random sponsor deals and our reality show was just syndicated in Antarctica, so, no can do. Push it forward!
DeleteBesides, Tessa hasn't done her round with Morosov yet. You know she's game.
DeleteIf SOI were still televised there would be the annual holiday specials where the star skaters came out with their kids. I guess even if those were still around Tessa and Scott wouldn't want to participate, being as protective as they are. They'll just let Charlie and Tanith get out there with their progeny.
What do you think is the signal they're in this til 2018?
DeleteThe fact that Sochi is over, just like when Vancouver was over, and it was expected they'd reveal, and they didn't (I don't mean bam - an announcement the day after the medal ceremony, but more like the Sale & Pelletier timeline). The fact that they signed on with another sham girlfriend who isn't just some local understudy sort, but someone in the public eye getting something specific out of it (whatever that may be - we don't know Kaitlyn's personal life), which ties them into their end of the bargain. And how everything since Sochi is just pressing re-set on everything since Vancouver.
DeleteI actually think 2018 is conservative.
^Also the fact that Kaitlyn is in it to 2018.
Delete^They don't care about the "hateful, bad people" nor bad things being said about Scott and Tessa. They only dislike certain bad things, mainly the bad thing that Scott/Tessa are married, and all the fan fic and analysis is ridiculous and Scott and Tessa KNOW they're ridiculous. That cuts into the whole community groupshare speculating that what Scott and Tessa do in public clues into what's in private. They're protecting fan perogatives, not Scott and Tessa.
Delete"If SOI were still televised there would be the annual holiday specials where the star skaters came out with their kids."
DeleteDid you know there has been a Disson show that does just that for the last few years?
And I know at least Shae has been on, so it's not like Canadians aren't welcome lol.
Delete3:37 PM - I did not. Shows how I (don't) follow the pro scene on TV (although maybe not just pros) and that just because I don't follow doesn't mean it disappeared. Thanks.
DeleteThen maybe you haven't heard that D/W get their very own Shall we Dance on Ice with special DWTS guests? In December, to be aired in February.
DeleteOh dear lord - just when you thought it was over - the horrorshow comes back...and to think when was the last time VM actually skated in the US besides training in Canton for a show - it's gotta be Yuna's show in LA back in 2010...sad...that's what happens when you are not team IMG Baden...or have DWs deep pockets...for all we know this puppy might air around Valentine's...good grief Charlie Brown...lol...
Delete(you mean just shows? Because 2012 4CC was in Colorado Springs.)
DeleteThanks anon at 5:25 pm that was a great event for VM...Oh how can I forget that special occasion when DW was like G-A-S-P-I-N-G for A-I-R-RRR...but for realz....quick oxygen tank.....I know I'm being bad...
Delete5:56 PM, surely you are mistaken about gasping for air - Tanith Belbin and Andrea Joyce assured us that until the program was entirely over, it was impossible to tell that Meryl or Charlie were struggling for breath.
DeleteHonest to God I could hear both Tanith and Andrea plotzing in the comment booth before they found their voice and decided denial was the way to go.
oc
https://twitter.com/DissonSkating/status/523968780259831809
DeleteAll those kids are adorable and really growing up! It's nice to see those families having fun together at an event. Very sweet.
DeleteI know exactly the part of the fanfic that VM are acting out right now. It's the part where both have agreed that they need to temper their relationship with each other to give their romantic relationships a fair chance. Scott can't be the boyfriend he needs to be for Kaitlyn if he's around Tessa and it's the same for Tessa and Ryan. Scott has failed relationships behind him and he really wants to make this one work and Tessa, well, she's just happy to be finally be at the stage in her life where she can be the girlfriend Ryan deserves.
ReplyDeleteThis part lasts for several months to a year, depending on how much the author feels like torturing the reader.
OMG 9:16, that is so spot on and so depressing.
Delete"This part lasts for several months to a year, depending on how much the author feels like torturing the reader."
DeleteLOL! Sad, yet true.
9:16
ReplyDeleteBwahahahaha.
And found another tumbler gem. From this place: http://this-is-an-open-letter.tumblr.com/
I'll copy/paste the interesting part:
[[All I’ll say is the ‘validity’ of Scott and Tessa wanting to keep their personal relationship private, is plausible and not at all out of the norm but to the great lengths that that website goes to prove that, is completely flawed. The logic seems to be, because they [Tessa and Scott] can do it- means they are doing it [fooling the public into believing they’re just friends and the people they’re dating are actually cover ups for their real relationship - oh and that Tessa is pregnant….again]. Sorry there’s a whole bunch of logic-dots missing there.]]
Such dogmatic statements from someone who has clearly not read the blog with any comprehension. Talk about not connecting dots!
These fans will only see what they want to see. Real logic and rational discussions are wasted on them. Like OC has said many times, they make up stuff and then argue from there, and they pretend the blog has said stuff it has never said. But to actually read and consider what is said here without putting words in people's mouths? Nope.
9:16 - but that reads exactly like the sort of thing said about Scott and Tessa themselves. They haven't read the blog, so they invent the blog's "logic". Just as they invent motives, attitudes and circumstances for Scott and Tessa, draw conclusions and it becomes dogma until somebody else comes up with something more entertaining or they tire of the one they've got.
ReplyDeleteScott sure moves fast. Suppering it up with the other Team Jennifer Jones "husbands" last night in Manitoba and working out with Tessa and Maria Mountain this morning. He's an amazing guy that Scott.
ReplyDeleteThat's near-Olympian stamina and an almost Harry Potteresque ability to seem to be two places at once.
DeleteWonder who cooked supper and if he got his chores done.
Maybe Kaitlyn packed supper leftovers in a care package for Scott to take on the plane? Was he not spotted on the return flight? So odd.
DeleteThere is no flight that would get him to London in time to do either of the things he was supposedly doing
DeleteMy word, they are all over each other like a rash on Twitter today - come on guys, responding to everything the blog points out is just making it too easy for us. Change it up a little - keep us on our toes.
ReplyDelete" Two-time Olympian. Grandson, Son, Brother, Uncle." You left your most important role off that list, Scott.....
Deletewhen are they not all over eachother though
DeleteThey're acting out. Total trolls at this point.
Delete^Meaning that everybody already knows they're dicks on purpose, and they'll pretty much trot their daughter's existence out as a means to score points, which is how classy they are, and I think fans are over the shock. If today he said "I'd trade places with my brother so I could have a beautiful daughter" I don't think fans would so much as blink. They showed who they are long ago.
DeleteP.S. - I especially love all the "Thanks for having my back - FRIEND." "Anytime, amigo!." "Still love skating with my PAL, SMO!" "Hey, thanks Platonic Partner!"
DeleteJust like Meryl tweets to Charlie. It's how all the North American skating teams tweet to each other. "Hey, strictly friend, thanks for having my back even though we're totally not fucking or married!" "My pleasure, you deserve it little buddy!"
My favorite part was "Sometimes I figure skate", I know it's meant to be cheeky, but that's about right these days. "Sometimes" may even be generous.
DeleteNot that's he's not skating in actuality, just going on their current PR and social media presentation.
Considering they're big fat liars, the cheekiness is a little out of tune. But I guess they find themselves hilarious. I wonder how a family of four plays the "We had to protect our privacy from that rabid figure skating fan base" story.
Deleteoc
I thought the "sometimes I figure skate" was Scott trying to be clever -- seeing as he follows that with the "17 years and counting with Tessa bit." Trying to get the message out that skating and his time with Tessa aren't necessarily connected...as Tessa tried to claim in her Twitter description....
DeleteVM are really busy these days. First Scott's in Manitoba, then jumps through time and space to work out in London with Tessa , who actually was supposed to be in Ottawa, and now Tessa spend the night at a hotel.
ReplyDeleteImpressive.
Why was she supposed to be in Ottawa? Because of RS birthday?
DeleteShe is now presumably in Toronto for fashion week. I'm sure that Ryan was waiting for her at the hotel and watched her scarf down her huge ketchup covered meal. (But she's not pregnant) Tessa sure gets chatty if it's nothing to do with skating or that partner of hers. What's his name again? Steve?
DeleteWhen she gets super chatty it's good to check if her nose is growing along with the rest of her, but no doubt photoshop can take care of that as well.
Deleteoc
"I'm sure that Ryan was waiting for her at the hotel and watched her scarf down her huge ketchup covered meal"
Delete^^I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or do you really believe this?
Yeah OC (8:20), that's so true. Chatty Tessa usually is the same is making-up-lies-as-I-go-along Tessa. When Scott is selling a bunch of bull he usually gets belligerent. Tessa chats and gets all Stepford-Wives robotic and plastic.
I was being sarcastic but I am certainly expecting Mr Neanderthal Semple to make another appearance.
DeleteScott usually tries the opt out first - one of these choices - 1) he'll blatantly mock what he's doing, 2) look mortified and uncomfortable, or 3)go full on shifty. Whichever way he goes, there's an obvious lack of conviction he's obviously meaning people to read. Once we've had a Please Notice My Lack of Conviction episode, that's when he turns belligerent.
DeleteStepford Tessa is her only lying setting, although this displays elements of The Bad Seed.
oc
So, proof positive that Tessa doesn't tweet about anything real: Canada suffers a possible terrorist attack on its Parliament and "proud Canadian" Mrs Moir has nothing to say? But give that girl a ritzy fashion party and she's all over it like a mouse on cheese.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Isn't that where her boyfriend lives? Priorities.
DeleteNot saying she doesn't really care about the events, just that it wasn't her goal for soc media. See if she posts something now.
I'm absolutely certain she does care - but as you say, that's not what Tessa's Twitter is for.
DeleteTessa didn't post anything about it but she favorited a news report from CBC ( IIRC ) about it a couple of hours ago.
DeleteAnd right on cue.....
DeleteI wouldn't call it right on cue, she did it 2 1/2 hours before OP brought it up.
Delete3:19 - her tweet showed up on my feed 32 minutes ago, AFTER I posted at 2:39.
DeleteYeah. It was 3 min after I commented "see if she posts something now."
DeleteMaybe it was a coincidence.
Her tweet, yes , but she started publicly following it 2 and a half hours before. So I wouldn't say she's only doing it because of this blog.
DeleteThe point isn't whether she knew about it or cared. She did. It's that at that time it was all going on, instead of using her public platform for addressing it or expressing her condolences, she was tweeting and retweeting about fluffy high end events she was attending. Which is what the purpose of her Twitter seems to be. Even though she knew about it and was on clearly present on Twitter (birthday flashbacks), she chose not say anything until after it was criticized here. That's suspicious in my book. You don't have to feel the same way.
DeleteThis isn't the first time they've done something in reaction to the blog. It seems like it's been quite a bit lately.
fluffy high end CHARITY events
Delete3:39pm - are she and other celebrities compensated for showing up? That's the game most of the time - the luminaries are there to get the people with the bucks to subscribe. She and Scott have been attending entirely on their own, no renumeration?
DeleteSecond, she doesn't exactly fall over herself tweeting about the charity itself. Good cause hashtag blah blah blah.
1. The socialite life is all ABOUT charity/good cause fundraising. Even the Met Costume Ball put on by Anna Wintour is a fundraising gala
Delete2. These are not all CHARITY events as in - for the specifically needy. A lot of hospitals, museums, medical research fundraisers aren't for institutions in need, but it certainly helps them thrive, move forward, expand, etc. There are plenty of fundraisers for successful institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, various dance companies, etc. And, say, skating clubs.
2. The celebrities are compensated, their travel is paid for, their accommodations are paid for. They're doing it to make money. They're not being charitable themselves; they're a paid cog in the fundraising machine.
3. For them, as for the corporations and individuals who pay to attend, it's also networking and exposure.
4. That's what the social circuit IS.
Of course, Tessa was able to afford high end clothing and international vacation travel with Scott while she was training full time as a figure skater with its attendant six figure annual expenses, so it's doubtful they need the event circuit to put food on the table.
Tessa's also paid to do TIFF. All the red carpets at these things are paid.
Can we have a moment of silence for Sackett, whose Twitter account was suspended today....this is the only place left for the snark :-(
ReplyDeleteWhy did they suspend her ( ? ) but @vmsuck is still around ? All SackettRocket did was tweeting about Monaco when that other account claimed Scott sleeps with sheep.
DeleteWhat I always always wonder with Tessa's twitter pics is "who" is taking these pictures of her. I'm not famous but she supposedly has people taking her picture almost daily. It's so vain. Oh well, her fans love her gorgeous/perfect ways
ReplyDeleteIs it really so different from " normal " people ? Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are full of regular people who let their friends take pictures of them 24/7 as if they were famous. Then they post it and let their friends fawn over how perfectly stunning they are. Almost everybody does it.
DeleteTessa surely can muster up one or two friends who are willing to take a picture for her.
It's just the zeitgeist.
I agree Tessa handled this just fine on her twitter. She mentioned it - that's what matters. She didn't need to then stop her planned activities or not talk about them, nor spend the rest of the day dedicated to what was happening in the news.
DeleteI think the larger issue is the general tone of her social media. It's been mentioned here already--how the fact that she is not including the context of her real life (mother, wife, elite-training-athlete, serious student), most of it comes across as a ditzy, sorority airhead. Living a privileged life that is out of reach to most of the rest of the people of the world. Basically, the typical Hollywood starlet. Clothes! Shoes! Fancy Balls! Shopping! Famous people! Whee!
If she focused instead on the charities behind most of her events the tone would change from self-absorbed bubble-head to grown-up, thoughtful role-model. Instead, she makes it about herself-- the clothes, food, etc. If she also included her real-life context (especially the role of mother who at the same time manages to be an accomplished athlete, student), that role-model image would immediately increase a thousand-fold.
It's all about context. Not specific tweets in and of themselves nor the abundance of photos of Tessa-fashionista.
She went to an event where she likely had someone there to help her get ready - that is not at all new. It was the same when she was competing. Did she not have someone there to help with make up and hair? I'm fairly certain we saw that person during the show. Maybe she even brought her mother - which isn't out of the norm for her either.
DeleteThere can't seem to be a line here with Tessa. Either she does something and its so fake or part of her public persona that;s different then her private persona or she's trying to hard to be a "normal adult woman". A friend took a picture of her, just like 10:43 pointed out - its not different then the pictures of yourself that litter your personal facebook, instagram or twitter.
I agree with 7:56 AM but I also think that people who look to social media to get any information from a public figure is just a tad naive. Its a site dedicated to expressing yourself in 140 characters - how personal are they supposed to get?
DeleteThere's a line that a lot of people tend to follow with social media and that is to be less personal about your life outside of you 'work' -whether you're an actor, musician or athlete and instead to spend more time concentrating on why people are following you in the first place.
I think Tessa hits that pretty nicely on the head. People are following her because they're a fan of what she does and who she does it with. Tessa tweets about skating and she tweets about skating with Scott Moir. She tweets about school and she tweets about eating and she tweets about events she attends - that's sort of the antithesis of Twitter.
Its an 'how ever personal I want to get about my life' forum. You can't force her to tweet about anything else and you can't claim she is lying about what she is tweeting. She does skate and she does it with Scott. She does go to school and she does love sweets and she does love fashion and jewellery and everything else that seems pointless and frivolous.
And I do agree her tweet could be a little more focused on all the people and charities that helped her to get where she is now - there's no denying if that's all she tweeted about these comments would all be about how she's trying to see her image as a do-gooder all the while lying about her personal life.
I'd also like to point out that her twitter is about her because its HER twitter. Its not a shared twitter like Kaitlyn and Andrew's that they both speak through in a way of promoting their brand. Tessa has created a twitter account separate from the Tessa and Scott/Virtue Moir.
I just think people take liberties with social media when really there's never anything concrete in what is being said. Its 140 characters to get your point across. Just my point of view.
8:21 I don't think people look to twitter to get INFORMATION.
DeleteWell said anon at 7:48 am....anon at 7:56 am - yes Tessa will be critized either way but if you take a look at Joannie Rochette's twitter vs. Tessa's and the overall tone that comes across - on face value if you didn't know these personalities beforehand, Joannie comes off as more down to earth...
ReplyDelete8:18 am agreed, but then if you're going to skew the pool you have to take into consideration ALL figure skaters or ALL Canadian figure skaters or just all the women Canadian figure skaters. Can it be said that they all display a social media image that is much more 'right' then Tessa's? And what criteria are we going on, just those that tweet about charities and not about fashion or jewellery or food etc?
ReplyDeleteI get your point I just think twitter is meant to be used for any purpose as the person tweeting feels it should. She tweets about what she likes but she also uses her twitter for business - like tweeting about being in Ottawa for the Tanger Outlet opening. That's what twitter is for - to express your own interests but if you're someone in the public eye its also to 'promote' events, shows you're part of.
I don't know - i just don't hold a lot of stock in twitter as anything other then famous people giving a very controlled amount of insight into their lives - in whatever form that exists on.
8:18 am here - 8:33 am I agree with your post, especially your last sentence. But it's a good conversation to have because really I think most fans would agree that VMs PR has been all over the map or the lack of it, lol when they were competing - so it's interesting to see where this goes, specifically with Tessa's personal twitter...as I believe she is the one out of the two who enjoys the limelight...
DeleteMy issue is when Tessa uses her twitter to deliberately lie about herself, either directly or by implication. And obviously not everyone agrees but I feel she comes across as a self-absorbed airhead and has by far the most fake and off-putting Twitter persona of any of the skaters, if I was a casual fan checking out her Twitter I definitely wouldn't be impressed. Now perhaps she truly is a self-absorbed airhead, I don't know, but it seems like a strange way to present yourself to the public.
Delete8:57 AM but what is she lying about? She is a figure skater who skates with Scott Moir - that's not a lie. She loves fashion - that's also not a lie as its been talked about with her in many of her interviews going as far back as 2009. She likes sweets - also not a lie, she's talked about her love for chocolate many times, its even a part of the SOI chit chat between her and Scott. She talks about school - also not a lie, she is going to school and has been in school since 2010.
DeleteI think the issue is that you're putting all the 'lies' she's not talking about as part of her twitter persona. So because she;s not talking about being married to Scott and having a child and another one on the way - she's 'lying'. You can't infer that she's lying about something she's not talking about or even alluding too. A 'casual fan' as you describe would not even know about the marriage and the children, they would likely only know that she and Scott have been skating together since they were kids, they won gold in Vancouver and silver in Sochi and its yet determined if they're retiring or not.
Of course we're both generalizing because we don't know exactly what a casual fan knows about Tessa and Scott but just because you 'know' something about them doesn't mean Tessa is using her twitter to lie, that's just you're perspective of the situation. Which is why I don't take stock in Twitter - its so wishy-washy.
I can see both sides of this discussion. Even if Tessa is not exactly lying, she's omitting some very important things about her life, but that's nothing new. I don't expect her to tweet about charities. I do expect her to tweet about fashion.
DeleteWhat's off about it to me is that I feel like she's trolling. I don't feel like it's just that she posts honestly but omits information about her private life. My impression is that she misdirects on purpose, and deliberately feeds into theories that are untrue... for example, the little hints about how she likes school more than skating, how she's an urban socialite in contrast to that hick Scott (who's doing his part on twitter too), how much she is enjoying not skating and getting to eat what she wants when she is most likely actually pregnant, the hint about being in Europe for a month *rolleyes* Those things are all feeding into some of the dumbest fan narratives out there, like the one where Tessa never was that into skating and was dragged around by the ambitious douchebag Scott for four years. Like Semple being her boyfriend with whom she reconnected in Europe. Like her struggling with weight problems since 2010 because she's such a glutton, even though she was pregnant then too. It just bugs. I feel like my intelligence is being insulted at every turn, but that's because I'm viewing it in a very specific context, so I can't view her the same as any other celebrity. I just find it sad and pathetic that Tessa would rather carry this on and court some of the worst PR narratives about VM rather than be honest or just continue to stay off twitter. I mean, how many celebrities join twitter only AFTER they stop doing the thing it is they're known for? It's quite bizarre and indicates to me it's for the sole purpose of sham.
I can see why it wouldn't bother others, because six months ago or a year ago I might have read it differently and felt the commenters here were being picky too. I think her most likely being pregnant is what makes it more annoying.
I agree with everything you just said 10:25. While she certainly doesn't owe anything to fans through her Twitter (it is Twitter were talking about here after all), I feel like she's using it for a very specific purpose. A large part of that is misleading about what's going on in her real life and who she really is, and as you said feeding into and off of these narratives.
DeleteWell, she's obviously misleading, we can't get too semantic happy with that. She's uploading manipulated photos of herself meant to mislead about what she actually looks like, and there's a specific reason she's doing that. She and Scott falling over each other with "friend" "pal" and making out as if they must text and touch base via text cause they live separately - these go past simply curating a twitter persona. There's also the past patterns before they get on twitter, that we recognize on twitter, such as the stuff with Scott's birthday.
DeleteI haven't read enough of other skaters' tweets to really compare. There's an awful lot on twitter that's just retweeting, hashtagging and sound-biting the mandatory positivity. IMO a lot of that has hit the wall, everybody sounds like a wind-up doll. I haven't spent time scrolling through her twitter and doing a compare/contrast with other skaters to see what's missing or why it comes off as contrived as it does, although I don't think the impression that it's contrived is just context or projection - I think it's contrived, and would strike most people as contrived. Nothing really connects up, and it's pretty artless and try hard. You know when somebody is trying to be casual, or tries to hit the right notes without saying anything? While that's twitter for everyone at first read, really, a lot of people do manage to suggest who they are as individuals. There's no vulnerability in her twitter; it's all contrived (#bekind). I used to see the occasional vulnerable or unassuming streak in Charlie freaking WHITE's twitter, back in the day, and pre-Kelloggs. I'm no fan of Davis White, but I actually do believe that Meryl Davis sends out for organic honey from a farm in Michigan, and that Charlie White was feeling so happy one night he tweeted a picture of the moon. I don't take anything of Tessa's as real, not the chocolate, not the fashion, absolutely nothing. It's not just past patterns and knowing her actual marital/parental status, it's simply that nothing seems uncalculated. Oh, they know I eat chocolate so I'm going to press that chocolate button. That's how she reads.
@11:29 I agree, there are a ton of hints on her twitter meant to make us believe that she's dating Semple and that she is absolutely not pregnant, and then there's all the badly photoshoped pictures of course. It's apparent that her presence on social media is meant to portray a specific image and some major aspects of that image are lies.
DeleteAnyway, the stuff she tweets just come off like artifacts, not who she actually is. Everybody who performs uses themselves or they're not going to be any good - or at least they're not going to be interesting. Sport aside, in the performance (as in theatrical) side, all you have is yourself. Your imagination, your investment, your energy.
DeleteWe see in Scott and Tessa's skating how much they use themselves, who they are together, who they are to each other. It's performance, but it's not fake. Really good acting is performance, but not fake. Difficult to explain but if you google, there's tons on it.
The best twitter accounts are honest. It's who you are, engaged with the public.
I don't get that from Tessa. I get one side of who she is - somebody extremely controlled, EXTREMELY competitive, and rigidly stubborn, and the chocolate/fashion/everything else is just what she's layered over it, and isn't how she authentically connects to that stuff. That's not what she's trying to project, but that's what I get from it. It's a little clenched. I don't think perfectionism = rigidity but she's conflated the two on her twitter. There's also the aspect of, if you edit out anything authentic, all that's left is going to be very hollow. She's kept her artifacts but edited herself out, so it comes across hollow and brittle, just as Scott's social media romances came across inane.
"it's simply that nothing seems uncalculated"
DeleteThat's the difference between Tessa's twitter and others. While obviously public figures' Twitter accounts all have a promotional purpose, there's usually at least a little bit of genuine personality in there. With Tessa it comes across as so incredibly forced, moreso than any other athlete I can think of.
^BTW, it you invest, use your imagination, use your energy, you're GOING to be using yourself. You don't have to calculate like: "Hey, let's use our real selves in this performance! Hey, I think I'll act just like myself on twitter, only of course everything is going to be twitter-appropriate."
DeleteIf you consciously keep who you are - whatever's natural - behind a barrier and construct a persona for that barrier, it's going to come across not real.
^Yes, incredibly forced, and that made something click for me. The content and style of Tessa's tweets are light, whimsical, upbeat, hitting notes fans have read about before, but there's something so relentless and aggressive about it at the same time - and where that relentless aggression comes in I haven't nailed down, but it's there - the result is an icy, controlled, ruthlessly smiling type of persona, somebody who absolutely doesn't take in anything in the environment they're in. In fact, THAT is a big component of it. Tessa doesn't take in ANYTHING (I mean allow it in). It's very similar to how she interviews when she's shamming. When Scott is in one of his lying modes, you occasionally see stuff register, flicker across his face, different expressions. He's on, he's as full of shit as Tessa is, but he's picking up the signals. Tessa's MO is to ignore and tune out and just get even more relentless, and that's how her twitter comes across. She's not listening. Other skaters/athletes, there's a little more of a flow.
DeleteFor me it's funny that on the reality show, she portrayed herself as lacking confidence, self-doubting, running herself down, neurotic as shit, self-obsessed, suspecting she's responsible for Scott's Scary Moods, everything that happens is both her fault and her responsibility, and she's exhausting. The way she projected this image was overkill. A ton of it was in voiceover and talking heads, and so it was twofold, this absolute Misery Guts version of Tessa she acted out, and this ruthless narrator in the voiceover and talking heads, instructing us on who she was, what we're meant to think, bearing down and tying up every loose end lest we have an unauthorized stray thought.
DeleteThe Tessa she's showing on twitter is that girl's opposite, but the director (which is Tessa) is just as ruthless. So oddly, it's the same persona.
I really do think it's the "not taking anything in - refusing to" that's the key to the forced idea. She's all #bekind when she launches, but there hasn't been any sign that that was remotely real, that she was in reality the least shy or apprehensive about twitter. It was just b.s.. These two talk the talk, don't walk the walk, but the talk is all that matters, so.
But it's there. I do not think this is people being too hard on her. Way before the blog, way before they got married, people felt something was off about Scott and Tessa. This was it. They're lying. When you lie about yourself in the scale they lie about themselves, it shows. It shows on her twitter.
^So, anyway, it's "Tuned out Tessa", IMO (I just talked myself through and realized that's what it is for me) that produces the forced, cold twitter tone. Everybody else, even Scott, seems to register stuff more. Even his "Hey, give my buddy TVirch some slack" or whatever he said, had Scott lying, but you could see the GUY through the lie.
DeleteOf course, not so sure which is worse. Stepford Tessa, the woman who can smile and smile and be a villain (Hamlet quote, don't mean it literally) or Scott, who's like everybody's favorite cousin, uncle and music teacher who turns up in somebody's homemade porno.
Not great analogies, but the point is, different styles of lying. I can see people being more off put by Tessa's at the moment- she's out there more. Easy to decide people would rather see some humanity than this robot shit. But if Scott were out there with his creepy routine long enough, people would go "Bring back the robot!"
For example, what she did on Scott's birthday wasn't just mean, it was unnatural. Most skaters, under the same circumstances, would have acknowledged the gazillion people saying the same thing. Most skaters/athletes wouldn't have made themselves conspicuous, talking OVER what their twitter followers were saying. "La la la - Taylor Swift!" It's only natural to pick a tweet and say "Will do!" or do some brief acknowledgment that covers the bases and people move on. It was extremely unnatural NOT to do it.
DeleteHow come nobody has an issue with Scott's tweet ? It came long after Tessa's and long after it was brought up on the blog.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a huge double standard within the fandom. Just because Scott isn't a convincing liar he gets a free pass on everything. It's always Tessa who is the evil force behind everything. Scott kisses other girls = Tessa has no respect for Scott and wants to show the world how whipped he is while poor Scott is just a victim. Tessa poses next to Semple = Tessa is disgusting. Tessa gets bashed because she ignored Scott's birthday on Twitter yet Scott once again gets away with not even showing up.
Why is it that this fandom just loves to put all the blame on Tessa and gives Scott the benefit of the doubt as if he's some little kid who has no control over his life ?
Scott is not innocent in all this by any stretch of the imagination.
DeleteFor me, specifically in this particular situation, he got on Twitter and said his piece. Tessa got on Twitter, talked about other stuff, that in comparison was frivolous and came back to "me", without addressing it, even though she most likely already knew about it. Then later (after it was addressed on the blog, which may or may not have had anything to do with her tweet), came on to tweet something about it. If she hadn't been on at all or tweeted about anything else first (for me personally), I wouldn't have had any issue with it, like I don't have any issue with his. But she preferentially tweeted, like she did on his birthday, and this is what I have issue with. At least with this she had the decency to not ignore it completely on there.
This is just further example though of how her Twitter is being used. It's a choice she's made to use it for a very specific purpose, so if she has to step out of that to tweet something real, it stands out and will always seem off, even if it is genuine on her part. I happen to think when she finally did tweet about it, it was how she truly feels about the situation. It's one of very few things I think are true on her Twitter.
I think it IS because he's not a convincing liar. He looks guilty and uncomfortable. Tessa looks zealous and rigid. There's also the memory of Scott saying "That's the first maybe" and several of his older remarks about "I'm trying". I believe some fans thought perhaps this could be interpreted as Scott's desire to convince Tessa to drop the sham; ergo, Tessa is the one holding the line. After this many years, don't know if that's true.
DeleteNobody, not even his wife or (at the time), fiancee', puts a gun to Scott's head and says suck face with Cassandra Hilborn on the couch. Or, do a smarmy photoshoot with Jessica Dube in the Dominican, your face buried in her neck. Scott is a smart man, a very smart man, at least in some respects. He understands the word no. He hasn't said it. Therefore, we have to consider him fully invested in this, and as on board with it all as Tessa. There's nobody to say "no" to, because all of this is as much his idea as Tessa's.
It does appear to me that they've gotten more callous. When we look back a couple of years, Scott seemed regretful/rueful about how he handled the "ideas for a profile picture" episode on his facebook. He posted a candid right after that, two of them in fact (one from a bus at Finlandia, the other from the Funny Face photo shoot) and after that his fan facebook profile pic was photos of him and Tessa.
I believe if that episode happened today he'd tell fans to fuck off even more. Look at "father, son, brother, uncle, grandson".
I don't know where the fuck off is coming from. Yes, it's his life, but he and Tessa also want us to by into, pay attention, and dig into our pockets for their FAKE life, and they want us to do so because we're convinced it's real, and we don't know it's lies. So he's got no grounds to say fuck off and neither does Tessa.
"But she preferentially tweeted, like she did on his birthday, and this is what I have issue with. At least with this she had the decency to not ignore it completely on there."
DeleteAnd that's the tell. That's the unnatural, forced, contrived aspect of her twitter that sets it apart from the other twitters that, at least on the surface, appear to skim across the surface of the same topics. She tunes out anything that isn't in her line of intention. That's not how you engage with people. That's not engagement at all, and twitter's format is engagement. She's behind a barrier and doesn't let anything in, and appears bad at gray areas. VERY bad at gray areas; bad instincts.
^TESSA isn't a convincing liar either, but a person who looks crazy faced and controlling about it isn't going to come off as sympathetic as a person who looks uncomfortable and guilty. The person who looks crazy faced and controlling is the person who doesn't appear to process or register anything about other people. You know, the lower orders.
DeleteI think also that over the years Tessa has made so much of the bubble and the barrier that people end up with the impression she occupies universe where she tunes out any feedback that runs contrary to a predetermined agenda (and I don't mean blog feedback), and refuses to hear, see or acknowledge anything she doesn't care to, which makes for an increasingly regressive, self-referential, arrested-development persona.
The person who looks guilty and uncomfortable IS processing how he's viewed by other people, which could be a source of the guilty expression and discomfort, and that suggests other people are on his radar, so of course people connect more. Look - humanity!
I'm saying this to explain why possibly some people are, on a visceral level, more sympathetic to Scott than Tessa. But this only goes so far. I think whoever is out on social media the most ends up getting the least sympathy, because their social media is so obviously fake, and Scott's back door routine is creepy.
I don't think Tessa has been paying attention to this blog....lol....her hammer pants picture....the floor boards are messed up big time.
ReplyDeleteIf Tessa paid attention to this blog she would have changed her pr tactics long ago and would have won gold in Sochi.
DeleteIf Tessa paid attention to this blog she would have changed her pr tactics long ago and she would have won gold in Sochi.
DeleteOk let me try again---Tessa's hammer pants picture---floor boards are majorly messed up. I wish she would pay attention to this blog
ReplyDeleteLol
DeleteNothing wrong with the floor boards. Most are 4-6+ inches these days. Try something else. Grasping
DeleteRe posts I've deleted: They're deleted because of "who" posts them, not what's posted. God knows I've said enough about how if certain posting patterns keep up, you can't post. I didn't say if you come back and try to front better or back door your agenda, you get to post. I said you can't post. Not surprised this was ignored.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons these posts are taken off is because of a posting style I've talked about before. Someone comes in, declares their assumptions, and these assumptions are misinformed or ridiculous (such as the person who insisted that the "how to photograph women" pose was the same post Scott was using), and the only way to respond is to continually go through these same assumptions. Not doing it. That person can not post, and just go back through previous comments sections to read about their wrong assumptions. There's also the person who leads by declaring someone is grasping, and there's the comments that seek to set the terms of the discussion - i.e., that's not photoshop! So that's settled! Try something else!
That's not discussion. Coming in as a blog commentator, declaring not that "this is how I see it" but "this is how it is, and all further discussion must remain within the reality framework I just established" - is trolling. Furthermore, for me or anyone else (and there have been many patient people) going through these sorts of posts piece by piece and repeatedly saying that their assumptions about how things work aren't how these work, is a proven waste of time. It's just like the comment I deleted. "Why are you deleting perfectly valid posts?" They're not perfectly valid posts.
Everybody here appears capable of turning on their computer, everybody here is capable of navigating away from this blog. I've had people come here not believing the blog's premise and their posts stay. I've had people disagree strongly on things and remain.
It's too bad if several people come here, declare that they're reasonable, when they're not reasonable, declare that they've made a good point when they haven't supported their point as its premised on lack of information/ignorance, and they don't get it when they're taken off after multiple warnings. That's either a failure to communicate or it's trolling. Either way, their posts can't remain.
P.S. and before someone who will be deleted afterwards comes in and says blog discussion must be around the reality framework the blog established - the blog didn't establish that reality framework. Scott and Tessa did, when they married and became parents. I'm one of the countless people who knows this for a fact, and clearly the blog exists because I'm not going to hesitate to share that I know this for a fact, and not publishing how I know doesn't change it.
DeleteI just deleted (but saved) a big speech that in every single sentence reinforced exactly why they're deleted and will continue to be deleted.
ReplyDeleteExample: "You've stated that there is proof of all that you claim if you read every post."
The blog has never said any such thing. The blog has said the opposite. That's why this kind of crap speech gets deleted.
"You've stated your connected with people who have this sort of information and are not naming them so that it doesn't ruin your future with them."
The blog has never stated that either.
Then there's the stuff about photoshop. If something's blue and someone else comes in and says it's green, and then links to something purple to prove their case, that is a waste of time. The same goes for obvious photoshop.
Here's where things are:
There are some people who are being deleted because of past behavior/warnings, and no matter how often they come in and what they say, they're going to continue to be deleted because of what they did in the past, and their pattern of absolutely ignoring what they're told about comment guidelines.
There are some people who come in because they either don't read the blog or everything the blog says they process as the opposite. There is no way to engage with that sort of comment, and it goes off. As it happens, it's from the same people who are taken off for past trolling, so that's good. There's also the fact that discussion is impossible if basic words mean different things to the people having the conversation.
That you spend time here, 8:49 PM, is evidence you do not think this blog is a joke or that no one cares. If you actually thought those things, you wouldn't be here giving this place any attention.
DeleteV/M being married with a child is a fact whether you want it to be or not, and the blogger has a right to discuss it publicly whether you want s/he to do so or not. Your tantrums won't change that.
^I just find it bizarre, this concept some have that the blog took over some thought control section of the web, like - ooh, you must feel so powerful to be in control of your own blog!
DeleteNew picture from Tessa : https://twitter.com/tessavirtue/status/525747321347510273?s=09
ReplyDeleteThere is literally nobody in the audience at Skate America. I thought last year was bad already but it has actually gotten worse.
ReplyDeleteIf USFSA thought DW would save skating in the US they put their money on the wrong horse.
I hope the Shibs are on their way to the police department to report the robbery that just occurred.
ReplyDelete6:06 again.
DeleteThe protocols have been posted. The biggest part of the score difference between the Shibs and CB is TES, specifically levels. The Technical Specialist is Sergei Ponomarenko, who's son is currently training under Igor.
The judges had them closer than I expected TBH, only 1 point back in PCS.
DeleteLOL, C/B got 3 9.00s and Shibs got 0.
Delete6:06 and 6:28 again.
DeleteCorrection: Ponomarenko was the assistant technical specialist. It's still a conflict of interest.
https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/525791994619383808
DeleteIsn't it something how Lynn knew exactly how it would play out on paper?
Tanith's commentary is absolutely intolerable. According to her, the Shibs are more theatrical in this program, which is exactly what they need to move up in the world standings. This is going to be long season of bullshit.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmVV3CwIBDM
It's no surprise that Tanith's commentary is intolerable----I always found her and her personality/voice grating and intolerance. (I still remember the NYTimes article that came out right before the 2010 Olympics, which said in essence, "I sort of-but-not-really had an eating disorder! Feel sorry for me and give me a medal!" My ex-boyfriend once described her over the top facial expressions as "happy go freaky."
DeleteThanks for sharing the Lynn Rutherford tweet. So I guess that's the narrative for this season - the oh so mysterious paso levels! They did so well with the Finnstep mystery at the Olympics after all. Rather than explain the paso levels to us, show examples, and super slo mo the steps and explain the level call, any result that seems off will be down to "sorry, paso levels."
DeleteIt's frustrating reading FSU and the people saying "CB have the technical goods, but something just seems off about them and I can't warm up to them".... trust your gut, guys! What seems off is that they don't skate very well and have awful timing. You've been told they have the technical goods, but that's not true! Same went for DW. And don't get me started on the ones who have already declared Evan Bates the best male North American ice dancer skating today, the same way they used to shoehorn Charlie in as co-best dancer with Scott.
Rutherford's recap on IceNetwork is as disgusting as the DW articles the past two seasons: http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2014/10/24/99545182
Delete"Rather than explain the paso levels to us, show examples, and super slo mo the steps and explain the level call, any result that seems off will be down to "sorry, paso levels.""
Yup. Not once will they ever cue up slow video from the angles the judges used to make the call. Paso levels will be a way to push down teams without political favor and a way to push inferior teams.
"It's frustrating reading FSU and the people saying "CB have the technical goods, but something just seems off about them and I can't warm up to them".... trust your gut, guys! What seems off is that they don't skate very well and have awful timing. You've been told they have the technical goods, but that's not true!"
I've been reading Golden Skate and seeing comments similar to those on FSU. I agree that these people need to trust their eyes. Subconsciously, people know that what they're seeing happen on ice is not the same as what they're being told.
Ponomarkeno's position on the technical panel and the ethical considerations have been brought up by a few posters on GS, including by the poster who I think was responsible for making the connection between Shawn Rettstatt being on a judging panel and VM receiving a set of lowballed PCS marks. Attempts are already being made to shut down the conversation. The poster kkonas replied with "You clearly don't know Igor or Sergei to insinuate wrong doing."
That tells me everything I need to know.
In that article it's interesting how CB talk just like DW: "a different look," "our own spin," "We improved our score from Nebelhorn, which is really how we evaluate ourselves," "We worked on showing all of the key points, the edges and foot point, to the (technical) panel in a very clear way."
DeleteLike DW's comments, they talk a lot without saying anything, and the ultimate arbiter of whether they had a good performance or not is the judging, not their skating.
The Shibs sound more like VM: "This performance was a little disappointing for us," "we had a mistake on the twizzles at the beginning, and it was costly," "Normally, we don't worry about twizzles at all. We feel our twizzles are some of best in world, and we have no stress going into them," "we work to bring that authenticity from the floor to the ice," "We're happy we found a program with a lot of room to grow."
I can Tessa and Scott saying every one of those comments. Owning their mistakes, pointing out areas of growth. Part of me wonders if this has to do with how the teams are trained: CB and DW being taught that everything they're doing is wonderful and they just need to show some fake attack in their expression to sell it, while the Shibs and VM being taught to analyze what they do and see where they can grow their skating, and that any problems in their score were a result of how they skated, not the judges doing something wrong.
That CB is to DW as the Shibs are to VM isn't lost on me either.
DeleteIt's a shame that the better teams who take so much pride in their skating are getting screwed in favor of teams who fake it and only care about the points.
7:56. It's not completely the team's fault. This is what the ISU is rewarding; the skaters and their coaches are taking advantage. The coaches (specifically, Igor and Marina) could insist these teams concentrate on improving skills, on doing everything according to the rule-book. Who knows, maybe they do spend some time working on "improving" the skating. But as long as this gets the highest scores, how are the the skaters themselves the villains?
DeleteThe true problem is at the top - the ISU icedance judging seminars, the prearranged deals, the scoring that does not follow either the rulebook or traditional standards of skating-skills or dance. Skaters and coaches are complicit, for sure, but they couldn't get away with it in the first place if the ISU and the Federations didn't allow it. They created this culture of rewarding bastardized icedancing.
I get what you're saying on one hand, but then on the other, you do have the teams who make the decision to work on their skating even though they're already being rewarded when their skating is less than stellar. At some level, personal ethics of the team do enter in to this. When I see that there are teams out there who don't take the easy way out although they could, I do feel somewhat judgmental of the teams that do take the easy road. The ISU and Federations did create the culture, but not every team is taking advantage of it even though they could.
Delete8:51
DeleteI agree the teams (DW, CB, also to some extent CL) are taking full advantage. I have no respect for their attitude either. This is what they choose, along with PR that minimizes skating skills and comes across entitled. If they chose the ethical road, like Shibs, IP, for example, the ISU would probably find other teams willing to play their games.
It's circles of corruption. But it could be stopped in its tracks if the ISU/Feds changed their tune and did things honestly, openly.
I know, hell will freeze over first. None of those people at the top are interested in ethical management of their sport. And there doesn't seem to be any entity that has the power and authority to investigate, prosecute and hold accountable.
I agree that the fault mainly lies with the corruption of the sport, with the people at the top... but many do contribute to the culture, including commentators, coaches, and skaters.
DeleteOn the one hand it's true that if someone goes out and performs a 10th place skate, and gets placed first, that's not their fault. They've only gone out and did what they could do. But then I also feel like, don't these people (and the coaches and choreographers behind them) take any pride in what they do?! I don't expect them to return their medals, but I do expect them to start working their asses off to merit those scores (which is totally backwards of course because they should have done that before getting the scores).
And maybe DW and CB do work really hard to deserve their scores, but they just don't have the ability to skate better, and you can hardly expect them to tell the judges to stop overscoring them. I get that, but with DW at least, I sense a feeling on entitlement to those scores. Does anybody think they would have been fine with it had the judges decided to give VM the Sochi gold? I think they would have raised holy hell. We already saw it at 2012 Worlds where they were legitimately outskated. They wanted to "have a talk" with the judges. That doesn't seem to me like someone who is blameless. The fact that their moms are photographed with skating officials and are friends with Rettstatt doesn't make it sound to me like DW were just inadvertent beneficiaries of the corruption.
"I get that, but with DW at least, I sense a feeling on entitlement to those scores. Does anybody think they would have been fine with it had the judges decided to give VM the Sochi gold? I think they would have raised holy hell. We already saw it at 2012 Worlds where they were legitimately outskated. They wanted to "have a talk" with the judges. That doesn't seem to me like someone who is blameless. The fact that their moms are photographed with skating officials and are friends with Rettstatt doesn't make it sound to me like DW were just inadvertent beneficiaries of the corruption."
DeleteExactly. Examining the whole situation with the behavior of DW and their families included, it looks like this was more than just DW inadvertently benefiting from ISU corruption. It looks like they played an active role in what happened.
I think CB's score inflation is a byproduct of DW's undeserved ascent and Igor's ousting from the Arctic Edge. This is about making things fair to Igor for not getting to be one of DW's coaches when they stole gold in Sochi. Limiting this to US skaters, it's incredibly unfair to primarily HD and the Shibs. The Shibs are getting screwed over, but at least they were allowed to hang on to spots for Worlds and Olympics. HD were screwed out of their spots the last two seasons, so I view them as having gotten an even shorter stick than the Shibs have. The trajectories of both teams' careers would be a lot different if Igor hadn't been forced out at the Arctic Edge.
"Does anybody think they would have been fine with it had the judges decided to give VM the Sochi gold? I think they would have raised holy hell."
DeleteThough I get the point you're making, I'd be careful about using something that never happened to back up an argument.
True 11:38, but I did mention their reaction in 2012, and it wasn't that of a pair who understood they honestly needed to work on their skating skills.
DeleteThis is worth reading: http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?52332-2014-Skate-America-Short-Dance-Oct-24-2014&p=999291&viewfull=1#post999291
DeleteHere are a couple of excerpts from the post.
"In Pattern Dance: Key Point 1 was executed very well, in Key Point 2 (Evan’s work only) exiting edge – Right Backward Outside was minor….I would say that it was not there. Key Point 3 with nice cross rolling, last Madison’s step on Left Backward Inside edge – the edge was done after some moment, not immediately, but Technical specialists counted it all…"
"RHYTHM ISSUES!!!! Out of the rhythm in most of Paso steps.
I take Mister Sphilband like a very smart one. He and some other coaches are masters in “hiding things“. Don Quijote is a ballet based on Spanish book, ballet dancers use Spanish costumes, some Spanish movements. What Madison & Evan are doing on the ice is not Spanish dance style, this is Madison’s dance style using from time to time some Spanish movements. It has nothing from feeling of Spanish dancers. But in comparison with other dance couples who really try to portrait Spanish dance style with all deep and passionate feelings and they are not succesfull in it… Madison & Evan’s non Spanish dance style is not that much visible because the program itself is not much Spanish and the couple doesn‘t try to portray Spanish dancers.
I don’t agree with this “hiding“ strategy. Top sport means top athletes and in case of Ice Dance also top artists and dancers. If you don’t know some dance style, you should learn it, not try to hide it behind something what is more close to you. With this strategy Ice Dance stops to be about dancing at all and soon we will have athletes with musicality on the level of 3 000 metres Hurdles athletes."
I read this poster's comments as well, and thought they were very astute. And of course, Doris had to chime in with this beauty:
Delete"Re timing: you have to be very careful commenting on timing issues unless you are at the event live. Especially if you are viewing streaming video, the audio and video are very seldom in synch at all."
Oh, I see, unless one is lucky enough or rich enough to attend the competition, one is not allowed to comment on timing. Does she get a free toaster from the USFS every time she tries to shut down the conversation for the anointed ones? It all sounds so familiar....
She must. What makes it funnier is that she didn't even realize the audio and video were out of sync for the Autumn Classic stream.
DeleteMarina is displeased with the scoring last night:
https://translate.google.it/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=it&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Frsport.ru%2Ffigure_skating%2F20141026%2F783130810.html&edit-text=
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2014/10/26/99647722
"Not everyone was pleased with the results, however. Marina Zoueva, who coaches the Shibutanis in Canton, Michigan, did not agree with the 11-point gap in the total scores.
"It is way too much, especially with the program Maia and Alex did tonight," she said. "The audience responded and right away recognized the quality. It was brilliant, no mistakes; it had high-level energy. And I'm really, really confused about the points they got. It just makes our sport look bad."
Zoueva added that she did not understand the levels assigned to some of the Shibutanis' elements, including two Level 2's they received for paso doble sections in their short dance Friday.
"Definitely, the levels confused me," Zoueva said. "All of the judges came over to me and said it was wonderful, [offered] congratulations, but the marks -- especially the technical marks -- I did not understand. It was way too low for Maia and Alex."
Zoueva emphasized the team would seek feedback and push forward.
"We will train, focus on getting even better and go to the next competition," she said. "We will see if another panel recognizes the quality of skating and just hope we get what we deserve.""
9:06 again.
DeleteThis quote from Igor is directly lifted from the playbook used to steal the OGM in Sochi for DW: "
"Shpilband and his assistant coaches spent two seasons developing Chock and Bates' lifts in this season's free dance.
"You have to work a long time if you want something different and new," he said. "I think if you want to get to the top, you have to do something no one has done before, and that's what they are going for this year.""
Both Igor and Marina sound like complete morons in that article.
DeleteInteresting how suddenly Marina is willing to call out the judging on behalf of the Shibs (even though the comments are just typical nonsense about having energy and not making mistakes). I don't remember her ever saying she didn't understand why VM got such low levels.
Is Tessa tweeting #KCRoyals supposed to be a hint as to how she's so NOT interested in the fact the Grand Prix of figure skating has started?
ReplyDeleteGiven the state of things, I actually wouldn't blame her if she's not interested in the GP.
DeleteAnon at 7:10 am - let's not be too harsh...Tessa's brothers are huge baseball fans - so perhaps that's her bonding with them. Her oldest brother Kevin - played for a US college team down in Texas - so he must have been really good since baseball scholarships for canadians is not as common. Hockey yes, baseball, football, basketball less so.
DeleteAs for figure skating - if Skate America can't pull numbers/fans in Chicago - yikes...it will be interesting what Skate Canada looks like - mind you because figure skating hasn't had an event in Western Canada for a while - it might have a decent attendance...
Lynn Rutherford...and senor Phil Hersch - how the hell these two still write for skating...and seeing how the same shenanigans are continuing - I wouldn't be surprised if Scott does decide to coach - that he may concentrate on singles and pairs...
"I wouldn't be surprised if Scott does decide to coach - that he may concentrate on singles and pairs.."
DeleteI wouldn't be either. At the very least, beautiful skating skills are still valued and rewarded in singles and pairs. I think he'd be an especially good pairs coach.
Stop trolling, Tessa. Posted on both insta and twitter so you know she really wanted everyone to see it.
ReplyDeletehttp://instagram.com/p/ulfHLBlVPb/
I think it's in very poor taste for VM (either one of them or both) to be posting on their social medias while there's an important skating event going on. IF they post anything it should be to direct fans' attention to the competition happening at the moment. Something along the lines of, Best wishes to our Canadian teammates. Period.
DeleteWhat Tessa is doing very much comes across as, "Look at MEEEEE" (instead of letting skating fans focus on the competition). Not to mention clueless and tone deaf.
Just one more glaring indication they have no professional management/PR team guiding their interactions with the public.
I don't think they're obligated to post about skating, but I do think she's deliberately going online and posting random things while skating is going so people KNOW she is online and NOT paying attention, which is so juvenile. It's just like when she said she missed being roommates with Weaver, rather than skating with her, and how school > the rink.
DeleteI think Tessa and Scott care about skating very much, so I'm flummoxed as to why they are so desperate to sell this version of themselves, especially now that competing this season is off the table anyway.
I'm 1:41.
DeleteI didn't mean that VM are obligated to post about skating. I meant that they should shut the hell up and not post AT ALL, unless it's about the international skating event that is going on.
I agree they care about skating very much. This version of themselves, particularly during a competition, is absolutely juvenile, you're right about that.
I just think she's purely trolling lately. Other than that, she's got nothin.
DeleteCBC just repeated the whole "VM graciously gave up their funding so others could use it" story.
ReplyDeleteI think most people will be like "Wha? They stopped skating so others could get funding?" That's the only logical interpretation. Everybody knows if you stop competing you're not funded. Skate Canada's entire approach to this looks weird, as if everybody knew Scott and Tessa weren't going to come back at any point this coming season, including them, when they were nominated for and took the funding, so now they're doing best defense is a good offense, but what are they so defensive about? They may as well hold up a "we're shady" sign.
DeleteBut that is sort of how everybody in that camp rolls. It's no fun lying and getting away with it unless everybody knows you're lying and getting away with it.
Kurt is always talking about momentum like he's Isaac freaking Newtown.
ReplyDeleteOMG, would that man just shut up?
ReplyDeleteEven if the Shibs did make mistakes in one competition, the impact is supposed to be combined to that one performance. The judges 3 competitions later aren't supposed to be marking off.
LOL, 1:41.
What does he mean "The judges remember that". So he's saying the judges don't judge the performance in front of them?
ReplyDeleteHe's totally in the tank - wonder what HE got out of it or thinks he's getting out of it, particularly with his wife banging the gong for Meryl when she was on DWTs.
Never liked him. :P
His momentum meme is asinine. Here's how you create momentum - suppress everyone else's scores, inflate one team's scores. Voila, the inflated team has momentum! Everything these people say tell the viewer it's not a sport. The eighties and nineties aren't coming back, the pageant of it all isn't going to put figure skating back on the map. That said, there's been a participant in the comments section who has vehemently pointed out more than once their own view that the sport doesn't actually want a higher profile. After watching this past quad, I can see their point.
There's been a discussion in the past about, not scoring integrity, but athletic integrity. As in why don't some of these teams - DW, Chock & Bates, actually work on their skating. DW worked on their skating to a point, then started doing the non-skating. Chock & Bates are there now, but Even lacks Charlie's sort of Candide-esque on-ice persona. In the past, my perspective has been that if these skaters stopped "non-skating" at a certain point, and started really doing it, they'd be exposed, because they can't really do it at the highest level. Mistakes would happen that are perceptible to a lay person - obvious stumbles, blatant missed connections, tripping, etc. Hard work can take a skater only so far if they lack the talent, IMO. Sometimes hard work can UNcover talent, especially talent that wasn't precocious, but I don't think it can endow somebody with talent. Anyway, it's obvious that the culture of the sport is extremely thin-skinned, that when parents and families put all this time and money in it, they get the bug, and they want their pay-off. Nobody talks about the skating. That narrative was dumped after 2010. They want the return on the investment, and fuck the skating. It would be almost odd if a team that could win if they fake-skated decided to really skate instead. Why would they? The environment doesn't really teach integrity to these people, those who buck the culture aren't rewarded, and once you've sunk this kind of money into it, a reward is what they're looking for.
Someone quoted some of Tanith's commentary: It was very interesting to hear Tanith talk about points and the new rules and the twizzles going on the wrong (all 3 same) edges. She also said C/B did no shows or exhibitions this summer, just buckled down and got right on the case.
ReplyDeleteLOL, sound familiar? Amazing how these guys can turn not being invited to any shows into a virtue (no pun intended).
I guess in today's ice dance world, having any injuries*, admitting any weaknesses, or doing any summer shows get branded with a black mark for the entire quad.
*If you do get an injury and have to miss a season, you can reset by dumping your partner and getting a new one. Then you will be considered fresh and fierce.
I find the irony of Bates' re-hashing the "American in Paris" routine intended for his (considerably more skilled) old partner with his junk new partner hilarious and sad.
DeleteWell its interesting that Zoueva is now questioning the judging score differences with the Shibs vs Chock/Bates...does she have a point - yes but the timing and circumstances does make you raise your eyebrows. Now that DW and VM are not competing, the Shibs are the team that have been with her the longest and they get this treatment from the USFSA and the ISU. She may be surprised. We are not. Is she upset that perhaps it is making her look bad whereas before it was a win win situation with DW and VM. Look in the end - as someone else mentioned - this all falls back on the ISU and the judges. There is zero accountability. The only governing body that can go in and threaten the ISU to clean up its act is the IOC period. And the IOC showed its hand in Sochi. They don't care.
ReplyDeleteIn a way I am grateful for all the beautiful skating that VM have given us over the years. Their body of work is a +1. Beautiful and innovative period. There are/were the real deal.
Teams like the Shibs and Hubbell/Donohue will probably continue to get low-balled. This sport stopped being a sport last quad and yes the ISU and the judges are the ones primarily to blame. But I don't think I have ever seen another sport - where federations, coaches and commentators have also kept their mouths shut...And for the long time fans of ice-dance - although there are promising teams in the horizon - for me the last 3-4 years has just been a travesty period...in the end it's a cesspool...if the Shibs are frustrated can you imagine what VM felt...
Zoueva's team is being railroaded by one of Shpilband's teams. Look at this quad. From the looks of things, it's going to be the "restore Shpilband's wounded pride" quad.
DeleteNot that you're doing it anon, but I figured if Zoueva complained about the Shibutanis being unfairly scored some V/M fans would use it as yet another reason to hate her because that's how they roll. If she doesn't complain, they'll claim she's doing the same thing she did with V/M - not publicly slamming their competition, and if she does slam the Shib's competition, they'll hate her for that too because they'll bring it all back around to V/M. So she can't win. Coincidentally, neither can the Shibutanis because the ISU isn't going to let them.
This "sport" is such a farce.
I"m just very surprised that she said anything because complaining about the judging in ice dance seems to be a no no. With Davis White and Virtue Moir both in Marina's shop, it was a different kettle of fish, which is why the job, more than ever, became Skate Canada's, and they didn't perform it. I do wonder what they got out of it, besides however Benoit Lavoie is maneuvering now that he's departed. It's like - here's our Olympic champions. You know when you trade a star in another sport and get a ton of other stuff in return because there's no equal side to trade? I wonder what ton of other consideration Skate Canada received for helping Davis White to gold.
DeleteI'm also of two minds about how much Scott and Tessa should be tweeting about skating. On the one hand, the sport is corrupt and they're the biggest example of that. OTOH, it doesn't appear as if the Ilderton Skating Club or the Moirs are going anywhere, and their business depends upon promoting not just figure skating, but the whole competitive system in Canada. On the third hand, Scott and Tessa benefitted from and continue to exploit figure skating's corrupt culture in their activities and public relations off the ice, so a boycott of acknowledging competitive figure skating in favor of tweeting super distorted images of Tessa in front of the London Ice Cream Co. (I've got a photo comparison coming up because, IMO, it's funny) is hypocritical and doesn't make much sense.
DeleteCBC's coverage with Carol Lane and Kurt Browning is atrocious. During Chock/Bates' lame FD, Carol was going on about how they're so much crisper and cleaner, and that segued to how that consistency is the reason why D/W became Olympic champions.
ReplyDeleteI can't even with this.
Thanks anon at 11:50 am for the comment. Anon at 9:48 am here. I would love for Carol Lane, PJ Kwong and Kurt Browning to go through a video analysis of either DW, Chock Bates, Gilles/Poirier and seriously say it to Scott Moir's face that these teams are actually better ice teams than VM, PB, PI, the Shibs etc...Consistency is right Carol Lane...in how the fix is in...and a lot of this crap for VM was about not only DW obtaining Sochi gold but the other elephant in the room was getting Chan gold...
ReplyDeleteI digress...actually with this bs..I would rather Scott concentrate his efforts on other goals for the immediate future and come back to coaching in 10 years.....
Kurt and Carol are full of shit. They KNOW damn well that Sochi was daylight robbery, and they know that not only the fans, but the general public know it was daylight robbery. They have to justify somehow, so they are still feeding us this bullshit even after Sochi. I hate this "sport".
DeleteI still don't understand how a working coach is allowed to do commentary. Even if her own students aren't competing it's in her interest to praise similar skaters like D/W or C/B, and that's what she does.
DeleteIt's so circular - give a team consistently inflated scores no matter how they skate and then call them the more consistent team.
DeleteI'm actually quite surprised a fan called out the edges in the levels, and how C/B received them. Also surprised that Marina said something about the judging. Not just that it's her that said it, and all of the obvious comparisons when she was coaching both DW and VM, but I'm not aware of ice dance coaches complaining about the scoring at all in the past two years, except for Davis White's sanctimony in 2012 about Worlds.
I can't recall any ice dance coaches saying a word about scoring in the past two seasons. As you said, the last time was 2012 Worlds, which in a way doesn't even count because it was people complaining about DW not winning a competition that VM clearly won on the ice. This time, it really is about a team that was wronged in the scoring.
DeleteThe same poster on GS who looked at the skating in the SD did the same for the FD's. She points out that Shibs made an error that was the same or similar to an error made by CB. The Shibs' levels went down while the judges ignored it with CB. It seems the judges also ignored some other mistakes by CB.
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?52384-2014-Skate-America-FD-10-25&p=1000533&viewfull=1#post1000533
Also, I don't think these have been shared yet:
This: https://twitter.com/ISU_Reporter/status/526227803164127233
And This: https://twitter.com/ISU_Reporter/status/526227902468485120
Vs.
This: https://twitter.com/ISU_Reporter/status/526228955091959808
Christmas came early? Christmas is every single competition for a fake team that's predetermined to get the scores no matter what's on the ice.
DeleteI'm glad there are people pointing out that they can SEE the mistakes that are ignored. The sport will ignore them, but I'm glad these people are participating in message boards, at least until they get discouraged.
@2:42 To be fair, that's only one quote out of a whole press conference.
DeleteYou know what's sad about Kurt Browning is that him along with Sale/Pelletier and I would guess Elvis Stojko made really good coin back when there was a professional tour. Kurt Browning has earned $$$ and if anyone should be able to talk and criticize it would be him. Kurt - you've shown where you stand. $$$ before the actual sport. At least on the French Canadian CBC network in the past Marie-France Dubreil hasn't sold her soul. To Ms. Dubreil - I wouldn't hesitate to buy you a glass of wine or a cocktail...
ReplyDeleteWell, this is interesting:
ReplyDelete"Information came to our attention recently that in CBC's judgment precludes us from continuing our relationship with Jian Ghomeshi,"
"“The CBC is saddened to announce its relationship with Jian Ghomeshi has come to an end,” the CBC said in a statement. “This decision was not made without serious deliberation and careful consideration. Jian has made an immense contribution to the CBC and we wish him well.”
“'Whenever a decision is made to end a relationship with an employee, terms of separation are never disclosed. #jianghomeshi,” CBC News Alerts tweeted."
The Giller Prize has announced he's no longer hosting the Nov.10 gala. I'm confused about the timeline, because a quick read suggests first he said he was taking time off for personal issues (there's talk it's about the death of his dad), and this was followed by CBC's announcement that they were terminating their association with him after info came to light that precludes their cotinuing with him.
Ghomeshi's lawyers are suing in return for $50 million, or have announced they intend to do so. If it's public, then CBC's answer will have to disclose why they ended the relationship.
"Internal CBC email notifying employees of Jian Ghomeshi's split sparse, cold enough to imagine a deeper story vetted by lawyers." #CBC
And this is interesting, that he hired Navigator:
Delete"Corporations and individuals sometimes find themselves on the wrong side of public opinion. We quickly pull together the right team to manage issues before they escalate into major crises. But when disaster strikes, our clients depend on our custom-built communications plans to minimize reputational damage. We formulate crisp messaging, handle media inquiries and provide media training. Once the crisis has passed, we develop strategies to quickly rebuild and recover."
CBC kind of had it both ways, announcing that they were severing ties because of information that has come to light - which suggests negative information, but then later piously tweets that its policy it to keep these things confidential. So Jian's reputation is damaged to what extent by being fired from CBC for reasons they won't disclose?
He has the reputation of being a total creep with women but that's been going on for years and they never dropped him, it must be something more serious than usual.
DeleteOr else CBC knows it's going public soon and they can't ignore it anymore. Good thing Tessa didn't pick him as her fake boyfriend...
DeleteI'm sure the following link is about Ghomeshi. However, like you say, 3:12, this kind of reputation about him isn't new.
Deletehttp://blindgossip.com/?p=54310
Someone should ask Tessa if she and Jian ever did "hang out" while she was in Toronto.
DeleteJian on the offensive - his side of things: https://www.facebook.com/jianghomeshi/posts/10152357063881750
DeleteThere are always, as they say, two sides to a story. However, would a big company fire someone without making sure of its facts?
I don't really care about this guy but it's interesting to me because of his link to VM.
From Jian's own words:
Delete"to maintain a dignity and a commitment to openness and truth, both on and off the air"
Well we know there was no commitment to openness or truth in his interviews with Tessa and Scott. Lol
Hiring Navigator seems like a smart decision, that post could not have been better written.
DeleteToo bad VM didn't handle Navigator and just come out...
Deletehire*
Delete"Well we know there was no commitment to openness or truth in his interviews with Tessa and Scott. Lol "
DeleteI still don't buy that VM are just running around, telling everybody and their mother that they're married.
We don't know what Jian or other media personalities really know about VM. Appearing on their show and flirting with Tessa for 5 minutes doesn't mean he's really in on it. A paycheck usually does the talking.
I don't think VM are "telling everybody" because they don't need to. If it's known among the media personalities that surround them, there's no need for VM to "be telling." It's known. Period.
DeleteTheir (public) relationship with Jian goes back to 2010 when Tessa was pregnant. Since then (in public domain) they've attended the same media-celebrity parties and have had more than a little contact.
Then there's the interview in Sochi. Pretending Jiani knew nothing before Sochi (yeah right), after being around them in Sochi he still would know nothing? Give me a break. The guy knows as does anyone in his position vis a vis VM. They're all playing along with VM whatever it is VM are asking. Period.
Anne Theriault is currently killing it on twitter with regards to this situation. https://twitter.com/anne_theriault
DeleteTessa is the right age to be one of these women who "came forward" - I wonder if that word will get around the gossip sites. What a mess. Jian disgusts me and so do these reports of his creepiness
DeleteTessa is married to Scott, she's not sleeping with Jian Ghomeshi. And he is being accused of committing acts of nonconsensual sexual violence against women. That's not being creepy, that's being a sexual predator.
Deletehttps://twitter.com/NPsteve/status/526446762677268482
DeletePuts things in perspective. As annoying as it is that VM aren't outed for their little games it's nothing compared to this.