Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir prefers to use his wardrobe, not his political views, to make statements.
Attending the 2014 Winter Games as an NBC sports commentator, the outspoken Weir said he has yet to experience anything negative in Russia, despite the nation’s anti-gay laws and policies.
Watch the video: Johnny Weir talks covering Sochi Olympics on TODAY
“I’ve trained here, I’ve stayed and sort of lived here for extended periods of time,” he said Monday on TODAY. “I’m not afraid of Russia. I’ve never had one bad homophobic experience here.”
Known for his flamboyant outfits, Weir hasn’t disappointed fashionistas since arriving in Sochi, Russia. He has raised eyebrows for frequently donning his favorite fur coat, but Weir has a history of being provocative that stems from childhood.
“I’m scrappy. I’m a tough person. I wasn’t afraid of other kids because I understood that someday they’d wash my car,” he said. “That’s what I had to believe and what I had to think to be strong enough to deal with kids and idiots.”
In Russia, Weir said he's taking his role as a figure skating commentator very seriously.
“I haven’t come to Russia to make a statement in any way,” he said. “I’ve come to Russia to do my job and to do it well. That’s the most important thing about being in Russia to me.”
