Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir is slated to appear in Season 1 of Criss Angel’s Magic With the Stars, which premieres on the CW on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Johnny will battle against 19 other celebrity candidates on the program. According to the show’s concept, two participants train with Criss in each episode to master his outstanding magic tricks for the competition and to produce a mind-blowing sequence of magic shows to astound the audience. The celebrity with the highest score at the conclusion of each episode of Criss Angel’s Magic With the Stars receives the coveted Golden Wand. According to the show’s official synopsis:
“The series is shot on the AMYSTIKA stage at the Criss Angel Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas, with presenter Eddie Griffin (“Undercover Brother,” “A Star is Born”).”
Johnny Weir, Criss Angel’s Magic With the Stars participant, is a former competitive figure skater.
Johnny Weir, an analyst and host, was born on July 2, 1984, in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, to John Weir and Patti Weir (née Moore). His father is a nuclear power plant engineer, while his mother is a house inspector and nuclear power plant worker. Johnny started skating at the age of 12 and fell in love with it right away. Known throughout his career for being “a highly lyrical skater” and “an engaging artist,” his clothing choices and outspokenness often caused conflicts with the US Figure Skating team. Despite this, he won several contests and awards.
In 1991, he became the youngest US National champion, and in 2004, he became the first skater to win the US Nationals three years in a row. Furthermore, Johnny is noted for becoming the first American to win the Russian Cup in 2007. The two-time Olympian represented the United States at the Winter Olympics in 2006 and 2010. He is also a two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, the 2001 World Junior Winner, and a three-time US National champion (2004–2006).
Johnny resigned from competitive figure skating in 2013 after many years of demonstrating his abilities in the ring. In 2014, he joined NBC as a pundit for the Sochi Olympics. Johnny came out in early 2011 and has been active in LGBTQ advocacy since then. He even competed in Dancing with the Stars Season 29 in 2020 with partner Britt Stewart, the show’s first black female pro dancer. The duo advanced to the semi-finals before being ousted from the competition.
Johnny also appeared as “Egg” on Season 2 of The Masked Singer before getting ousted in the first week. On Peacock, he has also acted as a US commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. Tara Lipinski, a gold medallist in 1998, and Johnny are best friends. They have co-hosted many shows, including Food Network’s Wedding Cake Challenge. He was formerly married to Victor Voronov, but the pair split after four years of marriage in 2015.
Johnny is now preparing to perform in front of the judges on Criss Angel’s Magic With the Stars. The event will include 20 celebrity participants who will be evaluated by Star Magician Criss Angel, Master Magician Lance Burton, and Emmy Award-winning comedian Loni Love.