British skier Gus Kenworthy revealed he has received homophobic abuse and been told to kill himself in the wake of his graphic protest against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

The 2014 Olympic silver medallist, who competed for the US prior to switching to Team GB seven years ago, sparked outrage in some corners of social media last week by urinating the words ‘f*** ICE’ in the snow and posting a picture online.

Kenworthy also used his Instagram account to disclose he joined the chorus of boos aimed at US vice president JD Vance during the opening ceremony last Friday. Now, the openly-gay athlete has highlighted the vicious backlash with a video message.

He said: ‘I care about the US and I care about what's happening there. I'm saying all this because the other day I posted a photo with my thoughts on ICE and that photo has since gone everywhere.

‘I've gotten a ton of messages and most of them honestly have been supportive and encouraging people thanking me for speaking up and using my platform. But a lot of the messages have been awful. People telling me to kill myself, threatening me, wishing that they'll get to see me blow my knee or break my neck during my event, calling me slurs. It's insane.’

Kenworthy, who shared images of the appalling homophobic posts he has received, added: ‘Maybe that's the price you pay for speaking up and using your platform. And so maybe this video is just going to invite more hate and vitriol. But I think it's important to say what we feel and stand up for what we believe in and stand up to injustice. And I've been really proud seeing other athletes doing that.’

The subject of athletes speaking out against US policy has become a theme at these Games. Hunter Hess, a freestyle skier from Oregon, was labelled a ‘loser’ by President Donald Trump in an astonishing rant after he described his mixed feelings about representing the United States.

'It's a little hard. There's obviously a lot going on that I'm not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren't,' the 27-year-old said. 'Just because I'm wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the US.'

Trump took to his account on Truth Social and fired back to say that Hess shouldn't be competing for the US if he's going to be vocally against his administration. 

Two-time Olympic champion skier Mikaela Shiffrin also quoted Nelson Mandela in expressing a hope that ‘we can all flourish regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference’, when she was asked about competing for the US.

Referring to those comments, Kenworthy expanded on his ICE protest by labelling the agency ‘absolutely evil’ after two killings in Minneapolis.

He said: ‘Hunter Hess, Mikaela Schiffrin. I think it's inspiring and it's important. And I also think that there's a lot of nuance to it and I feel like sometimes people forget that.

‘I just want to remind everyone that like you can love the US and be proud to be an American. I am. And still think it can be better and still think that the country can improve. And just because you love the US doesn't mean you stand with this administration and stand behind their policies and their legislation and support the things that they support.

‘I do not support ICE. And I think it's absolutely evil and awful and terrifying. There have been US citizens that have been murdered in the street, executed in the street. And the officers are essentially acting with like impunity because their identities are covered.

‘There's no accountability. It's really scary. They're racially profiling people, rounding up black and brown folks and kidnapping them, putting them in unmarked vehicles with no arrest warrant, no probable cause. They're being held without any sort of due process.

‘It's crazy. It's scary. And people are being sent to countries that they're not even from. And US citizens are being caught in this.

‘I think overwhelmingly the majority of the people being targeted are good people, hardworking people that are non-violent and have no criminal history and just came to the US seeking a better life. And that is literally the foundation story of the US. We are a country of immigrants and that's the American dream. And I think people forget that sometimes.’

The International Olympic Committee previously stated Kenworthy would face no action, despite their rules against political demonstrations at the Games.

The British Olympic Association, who were unconcerned by Kenworthy’s initial posts because they occurred away from an Olympic site, have been approached for comment.

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