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Animal rights group unhappy with Weir wearing fur
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CHICAGO (AP)—U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir will replace the fox on one of hiscostumes with faux fur after he and his costume designer were targeted by ananimal rights group.
Weir received “hate mail and death threats,” agent Tara Modlin said onThursday, and he doesn’t want anything to disrupt his performances at theVancouver Olympics.
“He’s changing it because he needs to focus on skating,” she said.
Friends of Animals posted an open letter to Weir after he added white foxfur to the left shoulder of his free skate costume for the U.S. figure skatingchampionships. on Tuesday, the animal advocacy group called his costumedesigner, Stephanie Handler, and faxed a press release about its open letter toher business.
Since then, Weir has heard from other anti-fur activists, Modlin said.although People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals made its case in aprofessional manner, Modlin said others did not—to the point she and Weir wereconcerned someone might disrupt him at Vancouver.
Weir qualified for his second Olympic team by finishing third at the U.S.champs.
“I do not want something as silly as my costume disrupting my secondOlympic experience and my chance at a medal, a dream I have had since I was akid,” Weir said in a statement.
Weir makes no secret of his love of fashion—fur included—and he’sreceived letters and videos from PETA and other animal-rights advocates over theyears. although he respects their positions and was fully aware of how pelts areobtained, Weir has said wearing fur was a personal choice.
There are other causes that concern him more, he said, such as homelessness,soldiers dying and the devastation in Haiti.
“I hope these activists can understand that my decision to change mycostume is in no way a victory for them, but a draw,” Weir said in hisstatement. “I am not changing in order to appease them, but to protect myintegrity and the integrity of the Olympic Games as well as my fellowcompetitors.
“Just weeks away from hitting my starting position on the ice in Vancouver,I have technique and training to worry about and that trumps any costume and anythreat I may receive.”
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Animal rights group unhappy with Weir wearing fur
