Rikuryu Controversy Sparks Backlash Over Relationship Question Japan US Differences Highlighted in Gossip Coverage

Vulgar. There’s no need to ask.

At the Milan–Cortina Olympics, figure skating pair Riku Miura (24) and Ryuichi Kihara (33), nicknamed “Rikuryu,” have sparked a heated debate.

On February 25, the two held a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, where the media asked about their relationship.

Kihara responded,

“Maybe comrades. We do argue too,”

while Miura said,

“It’s natural to be together, like family.”

She then added cryptically,

“I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.”

Their gestures of shared emotion led some overseas media to report,

“Could they be dating?”

This prompted further questions from journalists about their relationship, stirring mixed reactions on social media.

In the comedy world, Chitoyo Koyabu (52) criticized on the February 27 broadcast of Fuji TV’s “Shunkan LIVE Toretate!”:

“Asking about the relationship of athletes whose private lives haven’t been announced—I think that’s vulgar. There’s no need to ask.”

A sports reporter who attended the conference told this site:

“There were no particularly off-limits questions that day. It’s well known that the two are very close, and when the moderator touched on their relationship, the atmosphere in the room didn’t tense up. It was more like everyone was laughing. Honestly, we were surprised to later learn that it sparked controversy.”

Perhaps this reflects changing times. Questions that would have gone unnoticed a decade ago, before the rise of social media, now trigger debate in modern society.

The same sports reporter added,

“Our company also instructs us to avoid any backlash. In this environment, you’re scared to ask questions recklessly,”

grimacing at the challenges reporters now face.

Gracie Gold and her affair with the press

Meanwhile, across the ocean in the United States, relentless media coverage has targeted the tragic figure skater with rumors about his romantic life. Ilia Malinin (21), a top favorite for the men’s figure skating gold, finished 15th in the individual free program and placed 8th overall, missing out on a medal. The pressure of his first Olympics and the expectation of winning gold reportedly affected his mental state.

“Around the U.S., people were initially sympathetic toward Malinin.”

says a figure skating insider. But as soon as the competition ended, reports emerged linking him romantically to Korean figure skater Lee Hae-in.

U.S. media outlet “Sports Illustrated” reported that the pair were seen together at a cat café in Milan. Lee Hae-in’s charming looks have made her increasingly popular in Korea. News of her alleged relationship with Malinin, dubbed the “Quad King,” surprised many.

Both are single, so it might have ended there. However, more recently, rumors have surfaced of Malinin being involved with another woman.

U.S. media outlet “Big Lead” detailed Malinin’s complicated relationship with Gracie Gold, who won a bronze medal in the team event at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The story began when a video surfaced online showing Malinin dancing closely with a blonde woman at a club; the woman was later identified as Gold.

Gold had just publicly announced her relationship with former Canadian figure skater Nam Nguyen last year. While the true nature of her connection with Malinin remains unknown, it quickly became a major gossip story in the U.S., framed as an alleged affair.

“‘During the Olympics, there were also reports of Malinin dating the daughter of a Russian figure skater who had moved to the U.S. Between her, Lee Hae-in, and Gracie Gold, rumors linked him to three women in a short period. Fans who had been sympathetic are now starting to question his behavior,’”

said the aforementioned sports reporter.

Unlike in Japan, in the U.S., gossip spreads regardless of whether the person is a celebrity or a politician. Which approach is better aside, it’s clear that media attitudes and the tolerance of the public differ greatly depending on the country.