Former American Olympian and figure skater Johnny Weir criticised by gay CNN host for creating a ‘gay minstrel show’ during Sochi Olympics coverage

THE claws are out — and just when we thought we’d seen all the Olympic figure skating action on the rink, turns out we have a “gay-off” on our hands off the rink.

Johhny Weir’s outfits (far right, if you hadn’t already guessed) have created a bigger storm in Sochi than the figure skaters themselves.

A TV ANCHOR’S controversial comments about one of NBC’s most popular Sochi commentators has erupted in an Olympic-sized war of words.

Just when we thought we’d seen all the Olympic figure skating action on the rink, turns out we have a “gay-off” on our hands outside the rink.

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CNN host Don Lemon, who is gay, criticised NBC’s Olympic sports commentator Johnny Weir, who has made more headlines at the winter olympics this year than the Olympians themselves for his flamboyantly gay wardrobe, among other things.

News_Module: CLASSIC JOHNNY WEIR

News_Rich_Media: Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski preview Ladies Skate

Famous for his fabulous fashions on the field, the former champion figure skater and two-time Olympian Weir has teamed up with fellow US Olympian Tara Lipinski to announce the live results on the NBC Sports Network. The pair’s commentary is pretty fabulous - just like Weir’s choice of outfits.

News_Module: FASHIONS ON THE FIELD: DAY 1

News_Module: FASHIONS ON THE FIELD: DAY 2

But according to Lemon, Weir’s shock-factor fashion statements is not helping the cause for gay equality, telling CNN’s Newsroom, “No one likes a gay minstrel show”.

“And let me just say this I had this conversation with a friend about Johnny Weir and other people who have, who are out and proud,” he said.

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Lemon attempted to clarify his shock quote, explaining that he was simply expressing the opinion that not all gay people are as flamboyant as Weir.

“Someone who is flamboyant and over the top and all of those it seems those are the people who get the attention but they don’t represent all of gay America.”

“Johnny Weir doesn’t have to represent all of gay people. Johnny Weir is fabulous. He is flamboyant. He is who he is.”

FASHIONS ON THE FIELD: DAY 3

News_Image_File: Johhny Weir in his own gold medal with this number.

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Along with his co-presenter Lipinski, the 29-year-old has gained a cult following during his Sochi coverage and there are calls for Weir to take on a bigger presence on television post-Olympics.

But since appearing in Sochi, Weir has also come under fire for not highlighting the treatment of Russia’s LGBT community.

FASHIONS ON THE FIELD: DAY 5

News_Image_File: Pretty in pink?

FASHIONS ON THE FIELD: DAY 6

News_Image_File: The fabulous duo celebrated Valentine’s Day with a lot of love ... and lace!

Weir has been quiet on the issue, with gay activist John Becker criticising Weir’s “ludicrously offensive” underestimation of the issue in Russia.

But Nicholas Benton, a friend of Weirs, claimed he was making an “important statement” by laying low on the issue but expressing his homosexuality through his flamboyant fashion.

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News_Image_File: Addams Family, anyone?

Before attending the winter olympics, Weir had been an outspoken opponent of Russia’s anti-gay laws — he is married to a lawyer and advocate Victor Weir-Voronov — of Russian descent.

He has previously criticised Putin’s anti-equality laws and scoffed at claims by Sochi’s mayor that there are “no gay people” in the town.

News_Module: FASHION'S ON THE FIELD: DAY 7

News_Image_File: Put on your sunnies, this statement is going to sparkle!

Lemon emphasised that Weir should not have to be a “gay activist just because he’s gay” just like “everyone who is African American” does not have to be a “black activist just because they are black. Johnny Weir is Johnny Weir.”

It’s no secret figure skating is a hotpot of homosexuality, but Weir only came out after he retired, in his biography, Welcome to my World, in January 2011.

“It’s not part of my sport and it’s private. I can sleep with whomever I choose and it doesn’t affect what I’m doing on the ice,” he wrote.

“With people killing themselves and being scared into the closet, I hope that even just one person can gain strength from my story.”

News_Module: FASHIONS ON THE FIELD: DAY 9