Washington Post Revives Rippon Mania Over Dancing with the Stars

May 22nd, 2018 8:58 PM

Three months after his over-hyped, less-than-extraordinary Winter Olympic performances in South Korea, Adam Rippon's media cheerleaders are using his victory on "Dancing with the Stars" to expand his persona to legendary status. The Washington Post's Jacob Bogage raved about Rippon's electric performance on the dance floor and also declared him a culture war winner over Vice-president Mike Pence.

Though Rippon settled for a bronze medal in a team skating event in South Korea, he and his dance partner Jenna Johnson won "Dancing with The Stars: Athletes" Monday night. The nearly breathless Bogage could hardly contain his excitement in describing the latest installment of Rippon mania:

"Adam Rippon continues to electrify and inspire—even without an Olympic Games or ice rink as his platform. After dazzling fans at the PyeongChang Winter Games earlier this year, the figure skater followed with a sensational performance on the dance floor in ABC’s 'Dancing with the Stars' all-athletes edition over the past four weeks that was just as moving—and ended with him two spots higher on the podium."

This is the same kind of sensationalistic media attention Rippon soaked up in South Korea. He owned and mesmerized the media, which made him the most renowned bronze medalist ever—merely because he's homosexual. While we watched others soar to gold medal heights, the media was fixated on Adam. Good Morning America gave him hugs. NBC tried to hire him as an Olympic commentator. SBNation said he took over the Games. USA Today swooned over this newfound media darling throughout the Games.

And we thought Rippon mania was done with until he appears on "Dancing with the Stars." The fire erupted again, with Bogage explaining how this new "lord of the dance" transcends everything around him:

"The win for Rippon represents the continued success of his brand, one born in controversy, when, shortly before the U.S. delegation was to leave for the Games, he declined a potential meeting with Vice President Pence over the former Indiana governor’s stance on gay rights and conversion therapy."

The whole flap started when Rippon complained that VP Pence was leading the U.S. delegation in the opening ceremony. Pence offers to make peace, Rippon rebuffs him, media celebrate exalted homosexual victory over bigoted Republican. Narrative settled.

The giddy Bogage heaped more praise on Adam:

"Rippon’s playful sass and charm helped him emerge a seeming victor in the culture fight that ensued, and his grace and good humor in PyeongChang only helped his cause more. Now, he’s proven he can take his reputation to the dance floor—and prime-time network television."

It takes two to fight, and despite sassy Rippon's small-minded criticism, Pence remained above the fray. But to star-struck media thirsting for victories—real or imagined—over this administration, it's both athletic and political victory of epic proportions for the young media-created "legend."