The Best of Binky's Johnny Weir Blog: Here Be Dragons

Johnny with the birthday gift from fans

that we managed to keep a surprise for weeks:

a vintage Trifari brooch!

Via his Instagram: “Thank you to my beautiful, incredible

and wonderful fans for your birthday gifts!

This Trifari dragon is magnificent!”

Thank YOU for this fabulous pic!
Happy birthday all month long, Johnny!

Exclusive pics of the
fan birthday project below!

IT’S TONIGHT!! Johnny’s episode of

Hollywood Game Night is happening

at 8 pm EDT / 7 pm CDT on NBC!
Set those DVRs ASAP!
More preview pics here!.

Sneak peek of the episode!
Video link.

Yes!! Summer touring continues!

Johnny just finished his Fantasy on Ice tour
performances, so get ready: the Weibocalypse
of Artistry on Ice begins next week!
Please see Johnny’s official website for all
his performance dates this summer!

Dear Johnny,

we believe in you,

we support you, and
we love you always. ♥

http://bit.ly/WeLoveYouJW

Note: Candles last only 48 hours, so please visit often

to keep the love and light shining...

Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.

Kayso FINALLY we gave Johnny his birthday gifts yesterday! Yes, his birthday was two weeks ago, but of course he was in Japan for his actual birthday, so we decided to wait until he came home (briefly) to have everything delivered since his birthday is worth celebrating all month long anyway, and thus our gifts became his mid-month party in between his Japanese fans showering him with love at the beginning of the month and his Chinese fans doing so at the end.

(I love that this is a multinational effort.)

So now that we no longer have to keep this a secret, below are exclusive pics of the gifts to which fans from around the world contributed! But first, please roll around with me in Johnny’s latest Instagram skating vids since because wow:

Via Johnny: “Feeling good.”

The jaw-dropping series of jumps at the beginning

of this clip keeps me hitting “play” over and over....

Also the splits thing. Also everything.

Via Johnny: “The White Boy Wiggle...A.K.A, Buttons.”

And from just this morning.

Via Johnny: “A little melancholy Whitney...”

Hauntingly beautiful.

Birthday Backstory!

So back in March, as this rather challenging year was unfolding, Johnny—an avid fan of Game of Thrones—tweeted this:

Where are my dragons? http://t.co/iaCv9OYkmH
— Johnny Weir (@JohnnyGWeir) March 26, 2014

So for his birthday, we answered him: here we are. ♥

The birthday project began when fan Jenn Kittler discovered that Trifari, a jewelry brand Johnny likes, had once made a dragon brooch. After enjoying Johnny’s affinity for brooches during his outstanding run as an NBC commentator in Sochi, this seemed the perfect way to help him know that his dragons are always with him.

The actual vintage Trifari brooch that fans gave Johnny,

upon its arrival from the seller.

The dragon in its vintage Trifari box,

ready for wrapping!

Fans were invited to contribute to the purchase of the brooch and/or to send a personal birthday message to Johnny. The messages were gathered together and printed in a one-of-a-kind book for Johnny, with this stunningly beautiful cover art created by fan @MDCXVIII:

Please click the image for full-size view

to see the incredible amount of detail in the

artwork—right down to Johnny’s thumbnail.

The book’s dedication, written by Jenn Kittler.

Please click the image for full-size view.
Jenn also designed and produced the book.

The text reads:

Johnny: Welcome to your thirties. May it be a decade full of love, happiness, friendship and success.

Take what you’ve learned in the last twenty-nine years and make your life into everything you’ve always wanted. It’s all there waiting for you to claim it.

Never forget how well-loved you are. It’s a true reflection of the beauty you give the world. You’re a bastion of integrity and hope in a world that’s sorely lacking both. Every day you illustrate that imperfection is not a flaw, but an opportunity; failure is not an occasion for mockery, but a necessary step toward growth. You set an example of dignity and self-respect in the face of incredible cruelty.

Remember, your dragons are always with you. You carry them in your heart. We’re here to remind you in case you forget.

Wishing you all the love in the world,

Your fans all over the world.

At last! The printed book arrives!

The dedication page.

One of the pages of messages, blurred to preserve

the writers’ privacy. @MDCXVIII also created

the gorgeous artwork for the page borders.

Everything wrapped and ready to go!

Yes, there’s a third gift: thanks to the legendary generosity

of Johnny’s fans, contributions far exceeded the cost

of the brooch. So we also sent Johnny a Visa gift card!

FedEx package dropped off.

FedEx package delivered.

And then we waited.....

And then he tweeted the photo at the top of the blog!! Yay! He loves it!

And Тёма helped his daddy enjoy his gifts!

Via Johnny: “Тёма is enjoying reading

the birthday message book to me! Thank you,

Merci, Спасибо, ありがとう, 謝謝, Kiitos!”

You are so welcome, Johnny. Happy, happy birthday,

with love always from your dragons! ♥

Chibi Johnny and Тёма by @MDCXVIII!

Bonus pics!! Via Johnny: “I’m coming China! ❤️

@ Embassy of Peoples Republic of China”

Via Johnny: “So excited to meet my new

training mates this morning at @FirstStateGym!

Hooray for gymnastics lessons!

@ First State Gymnastics”

IDEK, but if this means gymnastics

Instagram vids, I am totally on board...

Via First State Gymnastics:

“2010 Winter Olympian- #JohnnyWeir

with his future training mates #firststategymnastics”

Via Stephen Pettinger: “@JohnnyGWeir:

to my sparkling diamond!

THANKYOU for everything you were amazing!”

Stephen is part of the team behind Sundance TV’s

Dream School, in which Johnny guest stars this fall.

Via @jacoblfitzpatrick: “Photo with johnny! @johnnygweir”

Jacob also trains at The Pond in Delaware.

Via Johnny: “Fresh haircut. Glasses Tom Ford.”

Bonus vids!! The full broadcast of Fantasy on Ice Toyama!

Due to broadcast time limitations, a number of programs

are shown only via highlights. Johnny appears in the show opening

at about 00:38, the closing at about 38:15, and in a brief

Bollywood clip beginning at about 10:50.

Video link.

One of my very favorites of Johnny’s Instagram vids:

a reminder of the Johnny from Season 1 of Be Good Johnny Weir

with whom thousands fell in love.

Via Johnny: “When silly ensues. Starring the glamorous

@kapanna87 and her costume.”

Very special thanks to all

who participated in the birthday fan project!!

Johnny stars in To Russia With Love,
a new documentary about LGBT athletes, portions of which
were filmed in secret during his time in Sochi as an NBC figure
skating commentator. He also is an executive producer for the film,
a project of Robert Redford’s Sundance Productions,
which will premiere October 22.

More info here and on the EPIX website.

Johnny and Tara’s brilliant commentary

segment from Late Night With Seth Meyers!
Video link.
Watch their interview with Seth here.

Johnny and Dora!!

Watch his spot over and over again
here, here, or here!

On Johnny’s website,

linked to his retirement statement.

Thank YOU, Johnny!

ICYMI: Johnny plans to discuss his personal difficulties just once,

in an exclusive interview with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush.

The three-part interview is available at these links:

Johnny Weir Opens Up On Dramatic Divorce, Part 1
Transcript here.

Johnny Weir Opens Up On Dramatic Divorce, Part 2
Transcript here.

Johnny Weir: Why He Went Public With His Divorce
UPDATE: Transcript here.

Johnny Weir & Victor Voronov: No Reconciliation!

UPDATE: In response to a rash of erroneous reports in the media,

Johnny spoke briefly with Access Hollywood again

to set the record straight.

Before you point your finger at me, try to do some fact checking. Speaking for myself, I keep my private struggles private. #ArmyofOne
— Johnny Weir (@JohnnyGWeir) May 20, 2014

Also on the blog:
“Rise Like a Phoenix”
An exquisite black-and-white series
of Johnny at rehearsal.
Exclusive photo © David Ingogly.