Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn has revealed that she received a “scary amount of threats” after publicly sharing her personal beliefs and coming out as pansexual ahead of her Olympic season.
In a candid conversation, Glenn admitted she expected some criticism — but not the volume or intensity of the messages that followed. According to her, the backlash quickly escalated beyond simple disagreement, turning into direct threats and hateful comments across social media.
“It was overwhelming,” she shared, explaining that the negativity began to seep into her daily routine. What should have been a focused period of preparation for the biggest competition of her career instead became clouded by anxiety and concern for her safety.
Glenn said the constant notifications and hostile messages affected her mental state more than she initially realized. At times, she found herself struggling to concentrate fully on training, replaying words she had read online.
Despite the fear, she chose not to retreat from who she is. She emphasized that being open about her identity was important — not just for herself, but for young athletes who may be struggling with the same questions.
Still, she acknowledged the emotional toll. She described feeling mentally drained and hyper-aware, especially in the weeks leading up to the Olympics when pressure was already at its highest.
Support from teammates, coaches, and fans played a key role in helping her regain balance. Glenn said messages of encouragement gradually began to outweigh the hate, reminding her why she chose authenticity in the first place.
Her story has reignited conversations about online harassment in sports and the responsibility of platforms and communities to protect athletes from targeted abuse.
Through it all, Glenn has made it clear that while the threats were frightening, they did not silence her. Instead, she hopes speaking openly about the experience will shed light on the real emotional impact of online hate — and encourage a safer, more supportive environment for athletes everywhere.
