Gus Kenworthy. | Photo: Gus Kenworthy / Instagram
Gus Kenworthy clapped back at people who were unhappy he didn’t attend a White House reception on Friday (27 April).
The Olympic freestyle skier took to Twitter on Thursday (26 April) to address the situation. He tweeted: ‘All US Olympians and Paralympians are invited to visit the White House and meet the President after the Games.
‘Today is this year’s visit and USOC spokesperson says he’s never seen so many athletes turn down their invites. The resistance is real,’ he said.
Other Olympians boycotting the event include Lindsey Vonn, Erin Hamlin, Adam Rippon, Chloe Kim, Jessie Diggins and David Wise.
Adam Rippon: ‘Go off mom’
But then backlash erupted when unhappy people claimed the athletes shouldn’t receive government funding if they don’t attend the White House reception.
Gus Kenworthy at the ESPY Awards. | Photo: Disney | ABC Television Group / Flickr
So, again, Kenworthy took to Twitter last night to explain.
He wrote: ‘To those saying @Adaripp [Adam Rippon] and I shouldn’t get gov’t funding since we skipped the White House visit: WE DON’T!
‘Absolutely $0.
‘The US is one of the only countries that doesn’t pay a penny to it’s Olympic team to train/ compete. All money comes from sponsors and private donations,’ he tweeted.
Adam Rippon agreed and replied to the tweet: ‘Go off mom.’
The pair became very close during the Winter Olympic Games earlier this year, posting photos together during the competition. They even tweeted: ‘We’re here, we’re queer.’
They even shared a kiss on stage at the GLAAD Awards earlier this month.
