Johnny is one of the most well-known skaters in the World, not just the US. Not having him on the tour is just bad business. I personally think they should get rid of tired old blood (Todd, Mike Weiss, etc) and bring back people with actual talent who interest the audiences. They'd make a killing having Virtue and Moir, Jeff Buttle and Joannie Rochette. There aren't that many dates, surely they could figure out a way to swing up to Canada afterwards, or even during the middle of the run.
I have to say that Johnny really is not that shocking with most of what he says and does. He made a few more comments four years ago that could be taken the wrong way and were likely in poor taste. He has matured a lot since then and there is absolutely a homophobic-air about IMG.
There have been numerous gay skaters on SOI over the years, but most of them NEVER talk about it and present a "straight" image at all times, have "girlfriends" or get married to women in pink hotels.
The entire tour used to be quite sexual when Bezic choreographed it, which makes me not buy any "family-friendly" argument. So what if Johnny did Lady Gaga, hell...Tara Lipinski vamped for a bunch of middle-aged men one year when she was seventeen.
I have an issue with "gay" not being "family-friendly," as though gay people are offending families left and right. Most families likely have someone openly gay in their extended family by this point. It shouldn't even be an issue. If SOI wants to continue being stale and project the overwhelming performance charisma of "masculine" men like Evan and Todd, they deserve to risk going out of business.
Replying to an earlier post:
Since when do kids who go to SOI not like Lady Gaga? Kids love her.
Figure skating, especially professional figure skating, is all about artistry and having a voice. Projecting a tame image (the Todd image) seems very Ice Capades. Just bring out the clowns...oh wait, that was an SOI Group Number.
This tour has been in a bad way for a while, but the last few seasons have been semi-promising with Cohen and Buttle. Now they have Davis and White joining.
Czisny is a pretty skater, but she seems to rest of being pretty. I don't feel anything when she skates.