Amber Glenn Addresses Criticism Aimed at Team USA Figure Skaters

Amber Glenn, who identifies as a “woke” advocate for the LGBTQ community, has expressed her frustration regarding the intense backlash directed at her and her fellow American figure skaters.

Glenn, known for her outspoken views on the LGBTQ rights situation during the Trump administration, shared her thoughts on the toxic online environment facing athletes, especially during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

“I really hope we can find ways to support our athletes in the future. The online discourse has been quite troubling, particularly for us three American athletes,” the 26-year-old stated on Thursday.

She added, “It’s hard not to come across those negative comments online. I truly hope we can create a safer environment for athletes, particularly for younger ones like Ysabeau.”

In the free skate event, 18-year-old Levit fell and ended up finishing in 12th place. Glenn also faced challenges during her routine earlier this week and had to skip parts, landing her in 13th position in the short program.

Glenn, Levit, and Alisa Liu formed a trio known as the “Blade Angels” and competed under a heavy weight of expectations.

Adding to the scrutiny, Glenn drew further attention after criticizing the Trump administration in her initial press conference. According to reports, she faced backlash when she commented that the LGBTQ+ community is experiencing a tough time under Trump, leading her to step away from social media due to the hostility she encountered.

Glenn remarked, “This is a challenging moment not just for our community but for many others. We’ve had to unite before to advocate for human rights, and this period is impacting a wide range of communities.”

Following her gold medal win last Sunday, Glenn responded to her critics through a TikTok video, saying, “They can’t stand to see two woke individuals succeed. If being ‘woke’ means using your platform to advocate for marginalized communities, then what does that say?”