American figure skater Amber Glenn shared on Saturday that she plans to reduce her social media usage after facing significant backlash online.
Earlier this week, during a press conference before the Olympics, she voiced her concerns about the Trump administration, describing it as a “difficult time” for both him and the LGBT community. It’s worth noting that her comments were among the few political statements made by American athletes as the Winter Olympics approached.
Despite receiving pushback for her remarks, she posted on Instagram that the intensity of the responses she received crossed a line. “In a tough time for many Americans, I opted to exercise my freedom of speech to express my emotions as a member of Team USA, and now I’m facing extreme hate and threats for simply sharing my thoughts,” she noted after the deadline for responses had passed.
She admitted to expecting some criticism but expressed disappointment nonetheless. “For now, I’ll be limiting my social media time for my well-being, but I won’t stop advocating for what I believe,” she stated.
In her comments to reporters in Milan, Italy, Glenn remarked, “It’s been really tough for the entire LGBTQ community during this administration. We’ve had to unite to fight for human rights before, and now it’s affecting not just our community, but many others as well. Supporting one another has never been more crucial, and I think we’ve grown stronger because of it.” She emphasized that the subjects she brings up shouldn’t be silenced.
Glenn, who won a gold medal at the recent U.S. Championships, stands out as one of the leading figures in figure skating at this year’s Olympics.
