Gus Kenworthy Avoids Censure for Controversial Instagram Post

British freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy will not face censure for an explicit Instagram post made just hours before his arrival at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. The post included an image displaying the phrase “f— ice,” allegedly written in the snow, which is a direct criticism of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

Kenworthy, originally from Chelmsford but a long-time resident of the U.S., also urged followers to pressure their senators to deny funding for ICE. According to the Press Association, officials from the British Olympic Association expressed that they do not view the post as a concern since it does not reference Team GB and was shared before Kenworthy entered the Olympic environment.

In a statement regarding Kenworthy’s post, a spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) clarified, “During the Olympic Games, all participants have the opportunity to express their views as per the athlete expression guidelines. The IOC does not regulate personal social media posts.”

Alongside the controversial image, Kenworthy wrote, “Innocent people have been murdered, and enough is enough. We can’t wait around while ICE continues to operate with unchecked power in our communities.” He followed up with a light-hearted message, humorously referring to his earlier post, saying, “My last post was pee so it only felt appropriate to follow it up with a lil’ dump… of photos from January. Yes, I’m a child.”

The atmosphere in Milan has been charged, particularly with reports of ICE agents being present as part of the U.S. delegation. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are attending the opening ceremony at the San Siro Stadium, having watched their team’s opening men’s ice hockey match on February 15, 2024.

Kenworthy, who previously represented the U.S. and won a silver medal in ski slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, switched his allegiance to Team GB in 2019. He competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where he openly criticized the country’s human rights record and its stance on LGBT issues.

As the competition intensifies, Kenworthy is set to participate in the men’s snowboard halfpipe event in Livigno, with qualifying rounds beginning on February 19, 2024. His outspoken nature and commitment to social issues continue to shape his public persona as he navigates the complexities of international sports and activism.