Adam Rippon Declines NBC's Invitation To Serve As Olympic Correspondent
Figure skater Adam Rippon will remain in PyeongChang for the duration of the 2018 Winter Olympics — thought not as an NBC correspondent, it was reported Sunday night Stateside.
Hours after NBC confirmed that Rippon would be joining their broadcast team, the athlete politely declined, since the opportunity would mean him leaving Team USA's Olympic Village:
I love being on Team USA and representing our country. My teammates were there for me during my events, and now I NEED to be there for them. I look forward to being with them, and I'm very excited for the rest of the competition. Go Team USA!!!
— Adam Rippon (@AdamRippon) February 19, 2018
Rippon's near-hire came after his bronze medal win in the team skating event on Feb. 12, and his 10th place finish in the men's individual event. He is one of Team USA's first two openly gay competitors (the other being slopestyle skier Gus Kenworthy).
Rippon made headlines in January when he said he would not attend a post-Olympics celebration at the White House, calling out Vice President Mike Pence for his alleged support of gay conversion therapy. Rippon later declined an invitation to meet with Pence individually — which did not stop Pence from singling out Rippon while voicing his support for Team USA:
Headed to the Olympics to cheer on #TeamUSA. One reporter trying to distort 18 yr old nonstory to sow seeds of division. We won't let that happen! #FAKENEWS. Our athletes are the best in the world and we are for ALL of them! #TEAMUSA
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) February 8, 2018
.@Adaripp I want you to know we are FOR YOU. Don't let fake news distract you. I am proud of you and ALL OF OUR GREAT athletes and my only hope for you and all of #TeamUSA is to bring home the gold. Go get 'em!
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) February 8, 2018
Prior to the 2018 Winter Olympics, Rippon served as an alternate during the 2010 Vancouver games. He did not make the cut for the 2014 Sochi team.
Are you happy to see Rippon stick around for the duration of the PyeongChang Olympics? Drop a comment below.