Vanessa James says she was unaware of former pairs partner's alleged sexual abuse, apologizes for her silence on subject
/Canadian pairs skater Vanessa James insisted Thursday she was not aware that her former partner, Morgan Cipres, had been involved four years ago in alleged sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl who trained at the same Florida rink.
This was the first time James, who competed for France with Cipres at the 2014 and 2018 Olympics, has addressed the subject. She apologized for silence some may have deemed hurtful.
Speaking during a press conference in advance of next week’s Skate Canada Grand Prix event, James said, “I’m deeply disappointed that my ex-partner would engage in that type of behavior.”
James said she had not thought of making a public statement until now because “it was an ongoing investigation, and it was something that I was not involved in in any way.
“Though I could have or should have supported victims of abuse, people that know me – and I hope the whole world – know I’m a good person, and I condemn that type of behavior.
“I chose not to make a statement, maybe to my regret, but I hope that victims and survivors know I commend their bravery, and I support them and believe them. I am sorry if my silence hurt them in any way.”
James had not responded to my text messages sent in early 2021 seeking comment .
USA Today reported in December 2020 that the Florida state attorney’s office had filed felony charges against Cipres for transmission of material harmful to a minor. Cipres, who left Florida for France, allegedly sent two pictures of his penis via Instagram to the 13-year-old girl in December 2017.
The French Ice Sports Federation announced in Sept. 2020 that Cipres and James had retired from competition. They had stopped competing together after the 2018-19 season, during which they became France’s first European pairs champions since 1932.
James, 34, who also holds Canadian citizenship, announced in April she was returning to competition for Canada with Eric Radford, who won two world titles and a 2018 Olympic bronze medal with his former partner, Meagan Duhamel. James and Radford are to compete at Skate Canada next week in Vancouver.
The 13-year-old girl involved in the alleged abuse and her parents told USA Today that James’ and Cipres’ coaches at the time, Silvia Fontana and John Zimmerman, had tried to protect the pair’s ability to compete in the 2018 Olympics by threatening the family if they reported the alleged incident.
The U.S. Center for Safe Sport investigated reports it received and last March suspended Zimmerman. He successfully appealed the decision.
Cipres has declined comment.
Asked how it was possible she did not know what Cipres had done and of the alleged efforts to keep it quiet, James said, “I reiterate that I was not aware of these allegations or this cover up (prior to being told of it by authorities after it was reported.)
“If there was a cover up my partner put together, that is something John would be aware of but not me. I will again say that if I knew, I would have reported it.
“I have nothing to do with this story. Anyone that knows me knows I do not support any type of abuse.”
In the press conference, Radford, 36, addressed his having posted and then removed a social media tribute to U.S. pairs champion John Coughlin after he died by suicide in January 2019. His death followed published reports that Safe Sport had given Coughlin an interim suspension while investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Several months later, three-time U.S. champion Ashley Wagner revealed to USA Today that Coughlin had abused her.
The investigation ended with Coughlin’s death.
“I think taking (the post) down was the right thing to do,” Radford said. “I think the education on safe sport and misconduct in our sport is something I have learned a lot more about.
“At the time, I was mourning a friend. The allegations at the time were allegations. I didn’t know f they were concrete or not.
“Looking back now, I wouldn’t have done that (posted the tribute.) I have an expanded sensitivity to those issues. Everything going on in figure skating and gymnastics has really sort of opened my eyes to all of that. That’s why I took it down.”
