American figure skater Amber Glenn responded to her critics on Tuesday after securing a gold medal in the team event at the Winter Olympics. Following her victory, she revealed that she had taken a break from social media due to “hateful” comments aimed at her, especially after she publicly criticized former President Donald Trump. However, she made a return to TikTok, posting a photo with fellow skater Alisa Liu and addressing her critics directly.
Glenn expressed, “They hate to see two woke people win.” She continued, questioning what “woke” truly means, suggesting it reflects individuals using their platform to represent marginalized groups.
During a pre-Olympic press conference, she mentioned how the Olympics had been a “difficult time” for her and other members of the LGBTQ community. This was one of the few political statements made by American athletes before the Winter Games.
“It’s been a tough time for the entire LGBTQ community with this administration,” she said. “This isn’t the first time we’ve had to come together as a community and advocate for human rights. And especially now, it’s not just affecting the queer community but many others as well. We’ve found strength in supporting each other in ways we hadn’t before.”
Glenn emphasized that the topics she brings to light should not be ignored. The backlash she faced online was significant enough that she decided to log off for several days.
Writing in a now-expired Instagram Story, she stated, “During a challenging time for many Americans, I chose to exercise one of the great rights in the U.S. – Freedom of Speech—to express my feelings as an athlete representing Team USA. Now, I’m facing a great deal of hate and threats just for being honest when asked how I feel.”
She concluded by expressing disappointment over the reaction but acknowledged, “I expected this. For now, I’m going to limit my social media time for my mental health, but I won’t stop advocating for what I believe in.”
