Is it true that the woman who lit the Olympic flame in Sochi last night tweeted a “shockingly racist picture” of President Obama last year? The New Republic’s Julia Ioffe says so, and though the tweet was deleted, there are screen shots floating around:
RT @juliaioffe: Figure skater Irina Rodnina, who just lit the Olympic flame, tweeted this a few months ago: pic.twitter.com/H5JnIrqdBy
— "Our key message is: test, test, test" (@daHawkeyeCaller) February 7, 2014
CBS DC notes that while Irina Rodnina never apologized for tweeting the photo, it did lead to an official response from the U.S. ambassador to Russia, who called it “outrageous.”
@McFaul mr.McFaul,in the name of Russian parliamentarians I wanna apologize for MP Rodnina's silly picture.her behaviour was inappropriate(
— Александр Сапронов (@sapronovas) September 14, 2013
.@Sapronovas thank you. Outrageous behavior, which only brings shame to her parliament and country
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) September 14, 2013
Rodnina, a former figure skater, is one of Russia’s most decorated Olympians.
Russia needs to answer for honoring Irina Rodnina at Sochi (@USATSportsImage): http://t.co/yeFMfePT0U pic.twitter.com/IUuUzwFXjo
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) February 8, 2014
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The lighter of the Olympic torch, last Sept., tweeted a racist pic of Pres. Obama. Putin, I can assume, didn't mind.http://t.co/lUL9k4nvVJ
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) February 7, 2014
Who ever would have thought that Irina Rodnina would have been so controversial in these Olympics? I was such a fan of hers. #sad
— Marilyn MacIvor (@HereIsNini) February 8, 2014
#irinarodnina ur ugliness is showing – Russian MP's Obama http://t.co/1JvnX7TM3F via @guardian
— Laney Fox (@laneyfoxtravels) February 8, 2014
"Freedom of speech is freedom of speech," Irina Rodnina wrote in Sept, "and you should answer for your own hang-ups." http://t.co/kQ0JJDw9SP
— Don Manuel (@regteapatriots) February 8, 2014
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