Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy has expressed his surprise at the backlash he received recently.
Kenworthy, who won a silver medal for Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, shared a message last week encouraging his followers to contact their Senate representatives to voice complaints against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
He provided a suggested script for those willing to reach out, stating: “Innocent people are being murdered, and enough is enough. We cannot stand by while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power in our communities.”
Yet, this serious issue was just one aspect of Kenworthy’s post. He also shared an image with the words “F**k ICE” written in the snow. The method of creation is uncertain, but the surrounding skis indicate it was possibly done using urine.
In a follow-up video, Kenworthy clarified that although he is competing for Great Britain to honor his mother, he still identifies as half American and holds affection for the U.S.
“I care about America, and I care about what’s going on there,” the 34-year-old stated.
However, he remarked that the intense criticism he received was likely a consequence of his choice to “speak up.”
“Many of the messages were appalling. I was told to kill myself, threatened, and people suggested they wanted to hurt me at an event. It’s just insane,” Kenworthy added. “And maybe that’s the price you pay for using your platform. This video might just spark more hatred, but it’s vital to voice our feelings, support our beliefs, and oppose injustice.”
At the same time, he acknowledged that while one can “love America” and feel proud to be American, there’s a need for improvement and betterment.
He did not elaborate on the nature of the photos criticizing ICE but reiterated his opposition to the agency, calling it “absolutely evil.” He described alarming reports of Americans being “killed in the streets” while police officers acted with little accountability.
“There’s no accountability. It’s really frightening,” he commented, emphasizing that ICE is involved in racial profiling, unlawfully detaining individuals without due process.
“They’re being held without any due process. It’s crazy. It’s scary,” he remarked.
Kenworthy, who was born in Essex, England, concluded that most people arrested by federal agents tend to be “good, hard-working individuals” who are nonviolent and seek a better life in the United States. He referred to this as “literally the story of America’s founding.”
The freeski halfpipe Winter Olympics qualifiers are set to start on February 19 at 4:30 a.m. ET, with the finals happening on February 20 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
This incident bears some resemblance to a situation with American skier Hunter Hess, who recently walked back his comments about U.S. policies, admitting he had “mixed feelings” about representing the country.
