U.S. figure skating champion Amber Glenn addressed the public following a weekend that saw her win Olympic gold in the team event while simultaneously navigating a “scary amount” of online harassment and a sudden music copyright dispute.
Glenn, the first openly queer woman to represent Team USA in figure skating at the Winter Olympics, has become a focal point of the Milan-Cortina Games for her dual role as an elite athlete and a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Response: Advocacy Amidst Adversity
Following her gold-medal performance on February 8, Glenn responded to the polarized reaction her presence has sparked. Her comments emphasized a commitment to human rights over political division:
On Fan Support: Glenn expressed profound gratitude for the “outpouring of love” from the LGBTQ+ community and allies, stating that the solidarity has made her “stronger than in previous eras.”
On the Backlash: She admitted to being “devastated” and “disappointed” by the level of vitriol directed at her after she commented on the “hard time” the queer community is facing under the current U.S. administration.
On Representation: “If that’s all that came out of my skating—just seeing someone like me being represented in skating–then placements be damned, medals be damned,” Glenn stated, reaffirming that her platform belongs to the community that helped her get there.
The Social Media Break
Due to what she described as a “scary amount of hate messages and threats,” Glenn announced she would be taking a break from social media for the remainder of the Games.
“I’ve never had so many people wish me harm before, just for being me and speaking about being decent—human rights and decency.” — Amber Glenn, February 9, 2026
Despite the digital hostility, Glenn insisted her shaky performance in the free skate (where she placed third individually) was due to physical fatigue and not the social media abuse.
A New Challenge: The Copyright Dispute
Compounding the stress of the Games, Canadian artist Seb McKinnon publicly objected to Glenn using his song “The Return” in her free skate routine on the same day she won gold.
The Complaint: McKinnon claimed he never granted permission for the worldwide broadcast of his music, despite Glenn having used the track for nearly two years.
The Resolution: By February 10, Glenn confirmed the issue had been resolved, noting that McKinnon had eventually congratulated her on the win. The incident highlighted the growing complexities of music licensing in figure skating since the International Skating Union (ISU) began allowing vocals in 2014.
