Dancing with the Stars: Athletes contestant Adam Rippon seems to have mixed emotions on opponent Tonya Harding's warm welcome last week.
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Not only did Tonya receive high scores and raving reviews from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman for their foxtrot, but she also received a standing ovation from everyone in the ballroom following her first performance. Even film actress Allison Janney was in the audience, supporting and cheering on Tonya.
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"It was nice to see that she had a moment," Adam told USA Today of the 47-year-old disgraced former Olympic figure skater who has made headlines in recent months thanks to the release of the I, Tonya film.
"But it's also important to remember that skating wasn't taken away from her -- that she was banned because she was part of a bad thing. I don't think that we should forget that."
Tonya and Sasha survived elimination during the premiere after landing in the bottom-three couples with pro snowboarder Jamie Anderson and former MLB star Johnny Damon as well as their respective partners.
However, it was not clear whether Tonya's placement "in jeopardy," according to DWTS host Tom Bergeron, was a direct reflection of America's real-time voting results.
As for Adam, the 28-year-old Olympic figure skater and his pro partner Jenna Johnson tied with another couple for first place during Dancing with the Stars' debut episode last week.
"I've interacted with Tonya very limitedly," Adam told the publication. "I'm not avoiding her but I'm not not avoiding her."
Tonya has yet to discuss the incident in which an assailant hired by her ex-husband and bodyguard attacked Tonya's skating rival Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 Winter Olympics; however, Tonya touched upon her past during a pre-taped video segment that aired prior to her first performance on Dancing with the Stars.
Tonya told the cameras backstage, "I got banned in '94 from skating, but nobody can tell me I can't dance."
Tonya vehemently denied having anything to do with Nancy's injuries for years.
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RELATED LINK: 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' PROS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS: WHO'S DATING OR MARRIED TO WHOM!? (PHOTOS)
"I'm here... to show myself and my friends that I can do this, and to America that I belong here," Tonya told E! News last week of her DWTS participation.
"I belong here. I belong with the other competitors who are wonderful athletes and Olympians. We're going to do as best as we can and see how far we can go."
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
