Adam Rippon reveals hidden depths to his sexuality

Mar 30 2018
Written by Josh Jackman

Rippon and Mirai Nagasu (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Rippon and Mirai Nagasu (Kevork Djansezian/Getty)

Adam Rippon has opened up about his sexuality, revealing that he has dated women in the past.

The Olympic figure skater had a spectacular Games on and off the ice while becoming – as he put it – “America’s sweetheart.”

He won a bronze medal as Eric Radford was becoming the first ever openly gay man to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

(Twitter/rad85e)

Rippon was also embroiled in Sally Field’s attempts to set him up with her son, director Sam Greisman, during the Winter Games.

And the athlete has spoken openly about his celebrity crushes since the Olympics, telling Ellen DeGeneres – who he is reportedly set to make a reality show with – that he’s attracted to Harry Styles and Shawn Mendes.

But in an interview with Rolling Stone, Rippon placed himself at 4.5 on the Kinsey scale, a way of rating sexuality.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Honoree Adam Rippon (L) and Ashley Wagner attend The Human Rights Campaign 2018 Los Angeles Gala Dinner at JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Human Rights Campaign (HRC))

(Getty)

That number defines Rippon as “predominantly homosexual” and halfway between “incidentally heterosexual” and “more than incidentally heterosexual”.

He explained that while growing up, he dated girls – though he didn’t sleep with them, which he said the girls thought was because he was too virtuous to try anything.

“I wasn’t grossed out, and I think that was what was so confusing for me,” said Rippon.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

“Then the first time I ever had sex with a boy I was like: ‘Oh no, I’m not a good person.

“‘I’m actually exactly who I thought I was.'”

Earlier this month, Rippon revealed what he had planned now that the Olympics are over.

(YouTube/theellenshow)

“I want to be on television,” the skater said. “I really like engaging with people, I really like making people laugh.”

Speaking about DeGeneres, he said: “When I was young and coming out, I really looked to her story because I felt like in her career she faced… backlash for coming out and there was a push against her.

“She kept her head down and she worked hard and now she’s one of the most recognisable and beloved people in America.”

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Adam Rippon celebrates as he is honored with the Visibilty Award during the Human Rights Campaign 2018 Los Angeles Dinner at JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

(Getty)

“I think she’s funny, I think she’s engaging,” he added.

“And I had the chance to meet her and be on her show and I was like, ‘I love this.’ I think she is so great and she has followed a path that I would love to follow.”

He said that eventually, “I want people to be like, ‘Adam Rippon is hilarious and we love him and did you know that he went to the Olympics?’”