The Team GB freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy says he has received death threats and messages hoping that he breaks his neck after posting an image apparently showing him urinating “fuck ICE” in the snow last week.
Kenworthy, who has lived in America for most of his life, also doubled down on his criticisms of the US immigration and customs enforcement agency, calling them “absolutely evil and awful and terrifying”.
It is understood that while Kenworthy is not yet in Livigno, where he will compete next week, the British Olympic Association has already put support services in place for the 34-year-old, including for threats and abuse via social media.
Kenworthy’s latest came in a post on Instagram on Sunday night, in which he said that he had received a lot of supportive comments for his remarks on ICE, but some had been “awful”.
“People telling me to kill myself, threatening me, wishing they’ll get to see me blow my knee or break my neck during my event, calling me slurs … it’s insane,” he said.
Kenworthy, who won silver in ski slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics when representing the US before switching in 2019 to represent Great Britain, also praised the Americans Hunter Hess and Mikaela Schiffrin for speaking out against the Trump administration.
“Maybe this video is just going to invite more hate and vitriol but I think it’s important to say what we feel and stand up for what we believe in and stand up to injustice,” he said. “And I’ve been really proud seeing other athletes doing that: Hunter Hess, Michaela Schifrin (sic). I think it’s inspiring and it’s important.
“I think sometimes people forget that you can love the US and be proud to be an American – I am – and still think they can be better and just because you love the US doesn’t mean you stand with this administration.”
“Because I don’t and I do not support ICE. And I think it’s absolutely evil and awful and terrifying. There have been US citizens that have been murdered in the street, executed in the street. And the officers are essentially acting with impunity because their identities are covered. There’s no accountability. It’s really scary.”
