American figure skater Amber Glenn, competing in her first Olympics, has responded to online criticism following her remarks about challenges faced by the queer community. In a social media post, she defended her advocacy amid threats and hate. The controversy coincides with a music licensing issue during her routine.
Amber Glenn, a 26-year-old from Texas and outspoken LGBT activist, is representing Team USA at the Winter Olympics in her debut appearance. Last week, during a pre-Olympics press conference, Glenn commented on the difficulties experienced by the queer community under the Trump administration, stating they are left to "fight for [their] human rights." She expressed hope to use her platform during the games to "encourage people to stay strong in these hard times," emphasizing she would not remain silent.
The remarks drew significant online backlash, including a tweet from user Jack (@jackunheard) on February 7, 2026, accusing Glenn of smearing America and questioning her place on the team. Glenn reported receiving a "scary amount of hate/threats" after exercising her freedom of speech when asked about her feelings as an athlete for Team USA.
On Tuesday, Glenn posted on TikTok photos with fellow U.S. skater Alysa Liu, captioning them: "They hate to see two woke b*tches winning." This referenced the U.S. team's gold medal in the figure skating team event on Sunday, where Glenn's third-place free skate performance nearly cost them the title. She clarified her stance, writing: "If ‘Woke’ means people who use their platforms to advocate for marginalized communities in the country that they are actively representing ……. Then yeah sure?"
Describing the backlash as "outlandish," Glenn announced she anticipated it but was disappointed. She plans to limit her social media time for her wellbeing, though she affirmed: "I will never stop using my voice for what I believe in."
Separately, on Sunday night, Canadian artist Seb McKinnon raised concerns on X about his music playing without permission during Glenn's free skate routine. The matter has since been resolved, adding to the scrutiny surrounding her Olympic participation.
