Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy boycott White House reception for Winter Olympians
The pair are among many of the Olympians who turned down their invites
Gus Kenworthy and Adam Rippon have boycotted the White House reception for Winter Olympians.
Members of Team USA attended the White House reception for Winter Olympians yesterday (April 27) where they met Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
According to CNN, however, Kenworthy and Rippon were among the many who turned down their invites.
The figure skater explained: “Olympians from the 2018 Games have been invited to go to the White House today. I will not be going. I will not stand with people who discriminate against those that they perceive as different.”
He added: “In lieu of going to DC, I have donated to a few of my favourite causes.”
Meanwhile, freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy tweeted: “All US Olympians and Paralympians are invited to visit the White House and meet the President after the Games. Today is this year’s visit and USOC spokesperson says he’s never seen so many athletes turn down their invites.”
“The resistance is real,” he added.
Kenworthy and Rippon have used their platforms as some of the first openly gay athletes to compete in the Winter Games to speak out against Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
The pair also caused a stir after forming a close friendship during the event earlier this year, which saw Gus Kenworthy kiss his boyfriend on live television around the world.