Woman who accuses Sørensen of sexual assault says comments by French ice dancer ‘create dangerous environment’
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The woman who accused Canadian-Danish figure skater Nikolaj Sørensen of sexual assault says public comments by French ice dance team Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron risk discouraging athletes from reporting abuse and contribute to a culture of silence in the sport.
Fournier Beaudry, a former Canadian skater, is Sørensen’s girlfriend and ex-skating partner.
She has publicly defended him since USA Today reported the allegations in January 2024, most recently in a Netflix documentary in which she said, “I know my boyfriend 100 per cent. I know him.”
“The comments by the French team in the press and on a Netflix documentary create a dangerous environment for skaters who need to report abuse,” the complainant said in a statement to The Canadian Press.
“The comments of the reigning Olympic champion and a team in contention for the upcoming Olympic title carry weight, and using their voices to publicly undermine a survivor’s truths further enforces the culture of silence in figure skating.”
The complainant, an American figure skating coach and former skater, has alleged Sørensen sexually assaulted her in Hartford, Conn., in 2012.
Fournier Beaudry teamed with Cizeron — the 2022 Olympic champion — last year after Sørensen received a six-year ban for sexual maltreatment from the now-defunct Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) in October 2024.
The ban was later overturned on jurisdictional grounds but remains under appeal. Sørensen has denied the allegation, which has not been tested in court.
Beaudry obtained French citizenship in November
Fournier Beaudry, who obtained French citizenship in November, and Cizeron are gold-medal contenders at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games.
Asked what message they are sending to survivors by defending Sørensen, Fournier Beaudry said, “We said everything we needed to say about that subject.”
“We’re focusing on the Olympics and what’s coming,” she added Friday in the mixed zone after the Olympic team event rhythm dance in Milan.
After a follow-up question, Cizeron interjected, “Is there another question?” before a media handler pulled the duo away from the scrum.
Cizeron was also at the centre of controversy recently after calling a book released in January by his former partner, Gabriella Papadakis, a “smear campaign.” Papadakis describes Cizeron as controlling, demanding and critical in the tell-all “So as Not to Disappear,” writing that she wouldn’t skate with him unless a coach was present. She said she lost her commentary role with NBC for the Olympics because of Cizeron’s response.
In the Netflix docuseries “Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing,” former United States skater and media personality Adam Rippon said, “There is some sinister energy around the partnership.”
Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry made it clear they’re determined to avoid the controversy and focus on skating when asked Thursday about the prospect of being portrayed as villains at the Olympic Games.
“Since the start, a year ago, we’ve been very focused on having a lot of fun on the ice and bringing as much gratefulness as we can to our skating,” said Cizeron, who also declined to rehash his feelings about Papadakis’ book before a group of mostly French reporters.
“We love skating, and we love skating together, and this is what we’re focusing on.”
