Truth and Lies: Tonya Harding

Right now they're talking about the Documentary her childhood friend made about her back in the 80's and that her behavior is a result of her mother's abuse.

Tonya is a compulsive liar, however due the abuse she received over her childhood and first marriage, her lying is a protective cocoon for her.

One thing I can't with Tonya is her bitching that she couldn't get the respect she deserved because she wouldn't play the game that the sport wanted her to.

Sorry, you are choosing to participate in a sport where all the other people competing are willing to play the game. Don't be mad that they're getting more respect than you are.

Now she's giving attitude about having to answer questions (about Jeff Gilooly) because she's already answered these questions numerous times.

No one is forcing you to be giving interviews, sweetie.

Just like the I,Tonya movie, they're glossing over the fact that Tonya wasn't the first female to land the triple axel and they're making it sound like she was the best female jumper in the history of the sport.

So I’m not completely unsympathetic to Tonya, but this is like revisionist history. And I see Margot Robbie made herself available to be interviewed for this. She must really want that Oscar nod.

The 30 for 30 documentary they made a couple of years ago about Tonya was much better.

I will admit that I’m really feeling the red lip Tonya’s wearing for her interview.

R6 it's a complete whitewash of events. I actually do have sympathy for Tonya's circumstances (and like her far better than I like Nancy) but she's 1) a constant liar and 2) constantly working any angle to get sympathy.

When you watch her, it's obvious she tries to think of the thing to say that will get the other person to feel sorry for her.

I am so sick of this trashy lying bitch. What a world this is, that somebody like her would be the subject of a sympathetic movie. She's a cunt!

"She was tailor-made to win the Olympics in 1992."

No, she wasn't. That was Kristi Yamaguchi.

I like how Tonya has that thing where she lies so much and thinks everyone else will be stupid enough to believe her (remind you of anyone?).

She talks about how obvious it was that her blade was crooked and you could easily see it on how she would lean on all her landings.

And of course they show a clip that completely contradicts that.

It must kill Tonya to say that Nancy deserved everything she ever won.

Tonya legitimately makes no sense.

In one minute she says she overheard them planning "something," and confronted them on it... and the next minute she says it never crossed her mind and she had no clue that he had any involvement.

Watching it now -- thanks for the heads up, OP.

It's funny how nobody, not even her coaches or her friends, ever corroborate ANY story that Tonya ever tells. Not even when it comes to her constant claims that she and Nancy were friends.

I'm over this bitch. Let's move on

Surya bonaly did back flips

[quote]Surya bonaly did back flips

And hopped across the ice, nary an edge in sight!

She is just not believable! She does herself no favors with this interview.

oksana is all cracked out now, correct?

I,Tonya was great white trash!!!!! Oscars for all!!!

She’s so trashy and full of shit.

She can “sort of recall” her husband planning an attack, my ass. As Rich Juzwiak says on Jezebel, she’s had 24 years to come up with a better story.

Also, how do you overhear your husband saying he would “take out” one of your competitors - and then not immediately think back to that comment when it actually happens?

What’s worse, she makes it sound like she told her husband not to attack anyone simply because her skating was good enough to make the team without resorting to sabotage. Well, OK, but what about the fact that attacking people is wrong - especially when you stand to gain from their suffering? Shows where her moral compass is.

The movie was overrated too.

The lying is totally a by product of a profoundly abusive childhood, then a domestic abuse situation. She had just won the National Championship - she wasnt thinking about anything but that. Never should have married Gillooly.

KInd of funny to see the posters in here crying like Kerrigan is their GF or Mommy or something. Tonya paid with the destruction of her life. I think she has paid enough and you should too.

Was she challenged on her lies or was she allowed to spew her usual bullshit unquestioned?

She was allowed to continue her lying bullshit.

She'll be coaching child skaters in a new reality show before this year is up

Tonya's mother says . . . . . . . . .

"Tonya called us trailer trash. We were not trailer trash. We had a beautiful, brand new trailer !"

Tonya was first to land triple axel in competition. She was a great skater. She shouldn't have to "play the game" to win on her merits.

[quote]Tonya was first to land triple axel in competition.

First AMERICAN woman to do that. And she did it in 1991.

Japan's Midori Ito did it numerous times – in various competitions (including the 1988 World Championships) – from 1988 onwards.

This profile in the NY Times was very insightful...

[quote] She shouldn't have to "play the game" to win on her merits.

She didn't. That's why the USFA gave her financial support and sent her to two Olympics despite run-ins with the law and other shitty behavior. And her placements, both nationally and abroad, were fair.

R28 please get informed before you start offering opinions.. and informed with actual facts... not the version of facts that Tony's gives.

The NYT article shows Tonya is in fact who everyone thinks she is. She lies and contradicts herself, feels like she has a pass because of her circumstances, doesn't take any personal responsibility for anything and shows no remorse for anything except what she claims happened to her.

So in other words she’s basically every human in earth

I love it. She complains about two or three things about the movie saying those are the things that are inaccurate... (notice that one of those things is NOT about how the movie doesn't exactly say she was completely innocent), she's most offended that they portray her as someone who swears like a sailor and used a horrific expression that she would NEVER say!

And then two minutes later in the interview she's swearing and using the exact expression she says she would never say.

From the NYT story on Tonya: "She contradicted herself endlessly. But she reminded me of other people I’ve known who have survived trauma and abuse, and who tell their stories again and again to explain what had happened to them but also to process it themselves."

Crying as I type...

Yeah.. no one has ever argued that Tonya is a severely damaged human being...

However she has never bothered to try to get serious help for her issues so....

Her agent/publicist quit after Tonya wanted to only give interviews to reporters who would not ask her about Nancy Kerrigan and the past or face a fine of $25,000. As if there is any other reason any reporter would want to talk to her. Not to mention the fact that journalism doesn't work that way.

^As was posted in another thread.... Tonya's gonna burn through any new good will anyone gives her within a matter of weeks.

So much for her rehabilitation.

Tragedy.

Tonya always walks around with a “who farted?” Face

[quote]Tonya always walks around with a “who farted?” Face

And all the while knowing damn well it was her!

Susan Clark would have been fabulous casting for her mother back in the day. Looks like her, talks like her.

I, Maa'm

I sat through two hours of that interview and truth never made an appearance!

There have been SEVERAL people that substantiated her claims of abuse. One of the mothers, other members of USFSA that told her mother to stop, film maker, sports reporter. So no, you are a lying troll.

She lies like every child victim of deep abuse.

[quote]So no, you are a lying troll.

No sweetie, that's Tonya.

[quote]other members of USFSA that told her mother to stop, film maker, sports reporter.

Links? Especially to the "other members of USFSA" and sports reporter who witnessed the abuse? I'd love to read the accounts.

TIA

I was in my 20's when this all went down and I followed the whole thing religiously. I got totally swept up, because I had no idea that Tonya had such a checkered history. I had been a fan of hers; I like strong jumpers.

[quote]One of the mothers Never read that or saw an interview stating that.

[quote]other members of USFSA that told her mother to stop Never read that or saw an interview about that.

[quote]film maker The student film maker you are speaking of was covered extensively during the press frenzy. She got her say about Tonya plenty.

[quote]sports reporter Which one?

Nobody denied that Tonya had it rough growing up. For the 1000th time, [italic]nobody denied that.[/italic]

What they--meaning the press and some of the public--didn't do was give her a pass, because of her shitty upbringing. It doesn't excuse her constant lying. It doesn't excuse criminal conspiracy and it doesn't mean that she was treated unfairly in her scores.

Totally screwed up the formatting.

She is a middle aged woman. At some point you have to let go of your past and stop making excuses for bad behavior, judgment, choices, etc.

Seems to me she has let go. Someone wanted to make a film, ask her side, she cooperated. Doesn’t mean she hasn’t moved on.

Haters in here are the ones that cant let go. Be clear about that.

Look in the mirror r55.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

....

Film maker?

You mean her childhood friend who concludes her interviews with the question, "Did Tonya do it? Of course she did it."

Hey, Hey, it's Connie!

“didn't do was give her a pass, because of her shitty upbringing. It doesn't excuse her constant lying. ”

Sort of like a flat earther arent you? -Yes, she lies and lies. Sort of a distortion of the Fight or Flight syndrome - it becomes an organic Lie or Fight psychological resolution.

I urge you, please stay away from children that have been abused or adults that suffered abuse. You do as much damage as the abusers with your utter lack of compassion, understanding and tolerance. In other words nothing but Judgment, the authoritarian in you.

Just watched this....man, the very mention of her mother would have her spitting acid.

R62 Precisely. That is one very very traumatized woman. Imagine that the one time you received professional help was associated with profound punishment that however well deserved, was associated with the destruction of your talent, livelihood - and you were number one in the world.

Many victims of abuse recover through “fresh starts” with children - as long as they have emotional support for more mature behavior. Its wierd - but somehow they can find the love they never had. Have seen that up close and personal in 2 young women I grew up with - they went on to become EXCEPTIONAL Mothers. Change comes, with love and support.

Tanya and her Mamma are BOTH liars. If their wasn't cash being waved in front of their noses, they'd both tell everyone to fuck off and mind their own business.

Tonya Hardliving

I'm always on Team Tonya. She was a great, athletic strong skater, and she had the talent as her first place showing demonstrated when she was the U.S. national champion in 1991, long before the Kerrigan scandal. At the same time, I feel she had a hard luck life mixed with some great opportunities, and she squandered it. But she was unprepared to know how to handle the opportunities. She did not know how to modify her approach, be gracious and go the extra distance. Oh yes, she worked hard to get where she was, but she needed to give more, and she didn't understand that. Little things, like giving up smoking; practicing more when everything was on the line. She thought her bull in a china shop approach would work. That's just immaturity and ignorance. It may work in some professions, but in figure skating you have to play the game a bit.

On the other hand, she didn't have the wherewithal to know, and she alienated people who could guide her--but that's what young people do who don't know. It happens all the time; Tonya's situation played out in the news because she was a national figure in her sport. She had reached the top. But that happens often in every profession. People get to the top and don't know how to handle success. People who have a lifetime of abuse almost cannot get away from the victim-hood persona. They lie and do what they must to survive. But Tonya had the talent, but she she needed to give in and she needed for someone to smack her down and guide her. But maybe that wasn't possible. Tonya was on the fast track, and sometimes people around you aren't equipped to keep someone on the straight and narrow. And then when you have the talent but you're not the little pixie princess such as Kerrigan or Yamaguchi, you don't stand much of a chance in figure skating. Maybe in the corporate world, but not in figure skating where image is nearly as important as talent. Tonya had thugs around her who wanted to ride on her coattails. She should have cut it off at the start. She had the talent; she lacked the know how due to a life of going without. But the U.S. figure Skating Association's punishment was too harsh. Even criminals get out of jail unless perhaps they committed murder. The skating big wigs set forth to ruin her capability to make a living in the only profession she knew. They helped ruin her life.

If what she was guilty of--knowing what happened after the fact after she got home from the Olympics--and then not going to the authorities thus hampering the investigation...well, you don't ruin someone's life over that. Such a harsh punishment perhaps should only have been given if she actually planned the incident. She didn't, and the USFSA accepted her admission. They thought Tonya ruined their sport. Their sport became ruined over their own greed and overexposure. But I'm still on team Tonya. I admired her talent. I forgive her crassness. I believe in second chances especially over what might have been.

It’s shocking to me that people like Lavona actually exist in the real world. I thought Allison Janney’s performance in I, Tonya was an exaggeration. It wasn’t. How sad.

[quote]I urge you, please stay away from children that have been abused or adults that suffered abuse. You do as much damage as the abusers with your utter lack of compassion, understanding and tolerance. In other words nothing but Judgment, the authoritarian in you.

Christ, you are presumptuous moron. I am not her therapist, nor is the public at large.

Tonya was actually very funny on those WORLD'S DUMBEST shows.....some of the other commentators included Leif Garrett, Danny Bonaduce, and Todd Bridges. Their comments showed that each of them was self-aware of their own circumstances......

[quote]Their comments showed that each of them was self-aware of their own circumstances......

Like when Tanya told someone to "get a job!"?

Tonya Harding and the seven other women skaters who have successfully landed the triple axel:

R66 well stated. Nice to see sanity prevail in this thread of bizarre Drama Queens. One thing to take away from the various interviews, documentary’s - women LIKED Harding. Unlike the fangurls, these women (including Chung) witnessed and spoke out about her circumstances, their admiration for her ability to survive and excel captivated them all. The sportscaster from Portland & Chung in particular. They ALL admired her great athleticism. One by one they felt let down by her playing any part no matter how small, in the Kerrigan BS. STILL they all wanted to testify to her potential greatness. To the person - Tonya was their fave - I wish she could see that now as some comfort.

Also that she “smoked - the HORROR!” Should surprise no one - for almost 60 years smoking has been used as a weight control device by most women in the public eye. “Fewer short term calories and they can deal with the health ramifications later” kind of thing. Tobacco ruined some of the most talented women in history. Tonya shared that shitty habit with her mother - who is surprised by that?

R72. Thank you. Ironically, a great skater like Tonya Harding who succeeded against all odds is what the skating world needs now. Skating has almost gone underground. No one cares It has become boring. But now, people would accept a more aggressive, strong girl like Tonya now--but not back when the ice princesses ruled. These girls have a limited window for endorsements. No matter how good Tonya was, she wasn't going to be the recipient of millions from Kelloggs Cornflakes. Not like Yamaguchi and Kerrigan. Harding felt left out. As a result she let the thugs around her get much too close. She knew something; she didn't know everything. But nowadays, her athleticism would be celebrated more than it was back then. Now Tonya wouldn't have needed to conform as much as she was expected to a generation ago. Even now, Tonya is a natural in an interview. She's very at ease when the cameras are on. That's a talent now wasted.

Back then, people or the media needed a good girl and a bad girl. Kerrigan and Harding filled the bill. However, Kerrigan wasn't all good; Harding wasn't all bad. I'm still on Team Tonya. I'm glad she is getting some redemption and people are seeing more of the whole picture as to what motivated her and the challenges she faced. But Tonya also needs to stop rewriting history (hello Margot Robbie and Allison Janney). Tonya was young but nonetheless, she made a big mistake. It wouldn't kill her to apologize. She says she's done it. Not really. Tonya. If she did, she might have been allowed back into the public eye in some limited form long ago--maybe not as a skater or skating instructor--the USFSA denied her that--and that's too bad because her sport needs a shot in the arm. But Tonya's drive and motivation could have been be useful in some profession. Let's hope she passes the qualities along to her son. USFSA--are you listening? You went way too far, and now your sport is suffering because of your overreaction and thinking that the standard ice princesses would last. You could use a Tonya now.

Let me respond to you R66 & 73 - I love what you say about her. Your heart is huge and your thoughts, well beyond the act, are very insightful to someone like me - just an observer. You can tie past, present and future into a coherent thoughtful analysis that is very informative and helpful to the sport.

About that “apology.” No. She apologized. Context for you: throughout 2015-16 the male press extolled Hillary Clintons “unlikeability” “unrelateability” as in how dare you run - and why arent you apologizing for the EMAILS - or why dont people like you?? Can you tell us for the 101th time “how SORRY YOU ARE?” There is such an inherent bias in this society that demands women apologize. And then they are ruined, banned, investigated 6 times, testifying and they lose or are punished - but STILL certain people keep demanding those FUCKING APOLOGIES keep coming! It is as if each and every person transfer mommy needs on that 1 woman - now you apologize to ME individually, god damn it! There are after all 4 men that actually perpetrated the VIOLENCE and they sure arent being hounded to apologize.

Please examine that need in yourself. SHE APOLOGIZED. SHE LOST HER LIVELIHOOD. She is done, she is a good person. She needs a little strong therapy and call it a day. I wish her well. I also wish that the USFSA would stop the misogyny and hate towards her. After all they stood by and did nothing about the violence in her life for the time she was a top attraction for them. I want THAT apology myself.

There are some people who just continue to fascinate the public. Tonya Harding is one people. Princess Diana and a Sarah Ferguson a couple more for different reasons. Those who show personality, resiliency, vulnerability, humor, grit and determination forever remain interesting and fascinating to the public.

Johnny Weir Isn’t Here For Tonya Harding’s Media Redemption

“I won’t applaud her and I stand for Nancy,” he tweeted.

Fuck off, Weir. She didn't ruin your sport.