New Ice Dance Partnership Emerges Amidst Controversies
Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry have formed a new ice dancing partnership. Their recent performance to Madonna's "Vogue" has gained online attention, while background information regarding their partnership has been briefly discussed in broadcasts.
Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry's new ice dance partnership has emerged, with their "Vogue" performance gaining online traction amidst brewing controversies.
Cizeron's Former Partnership and Memoir Allegations
Cizeron's former partner, Gabriella Papadakis, released a memoir where she described him as "controlling, demanding, and critical." Papadakis's memoir also critiqued the figure skating system, stating it prioritizes men and can lead to women feeling disempowered.
In her memoir, Papadakis reported two instances of rape as a teenager by a choreographer-coach, which she did not report at the time. Following the memoir's release, NBC subsequently terminated Papadakis's commentator role, citing a conflict of interest. Cizeron's legal representatives issued a notice regarding statements made in the memoir.
Gabriella Papadakis's memoir detailed Cizeron as "controlling" and "critical," critiqued the figure skating system's bias, and disclosed two instances of teenage sexual assault, leading to her NBC commentator termination and legal action from Cizeron's team.
Fournier Beaudry's Former Partner and Unresolved Case
Laurence Fournier Beaudry's former partner and current boyfriend, Nikolaj Sørensen, is involved in an unresolved sexual maltreatment case. In January 2024, USA Today reported that a United States figure skating coach and former skater alleged Sørensen sexually assaulted her in 2012. The Canadian Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (COSIC) initiated an investigation into the matter.
The accuser stated the assault occurred at a party in Connecticut when she was 22 and Sørensen was 23. She reported the incident after reading an interview where Sørensen discussed "the importance of keeping women safe in ice dancing." Sørensen has denied the allegations.
COSIC issued a six-year suspension against Sørensen, but an arbitrator overturned this decision in June 2025. The arbitrator's ruling indicated that Sørensen "did not expressly consent to be retroactively bound" to Canada's anti-abuse policy, rather than assessing the assault claim itself. The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada later deemed the arbitrator's ruling "not reasonable" and requested additional documents, leaving the case status unresolved. Fournier Beaudry has publicly supported Sørensen.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry's current boyfriend and former partner, Nikolaj Sørensen, faces unresolved sexual assault allegations, which he denies. A six-year suspension was overturned on a procedural technicality, not the merits of the claim, leaving the case status ambiguous.
Media Scrutiny and Athlete Responses
Coverage of the new partnership, including a Netflix documentary, has been criticized for briefly addressing the controversies. Retired U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon stated in the documentary that "there is some sinister energy around the partnership," but the focus largely remained on the new duo's narrative. The documentary did not extensively cover Papadakis's memoir or the detailed allegations against Sørensen.
During a press availability, journalist Christine Brennan questioned Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron regarding a statement from Sørensen's accuser. The statement highlighted concerns that public comments by the French team could negatively impact abuse survivors. Fournier Beaudry responded, "We said everything we needed to say about that subject," and later, "We have no thoughts" when pressed further. Other media outlets have produced features on the pair, with some reports noting that questions regarding the allegations originated from American journalists.
Gabriella Papadakis has continued to address the situation on social media, discussing her termination from NBC and broader systemic issues in figure skating. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging "whose voices are excluded from the arena" during the Winter Olympics.
Media and public responses to the new partnership highlight criticism of limited coverage of controversies, particularly regarding Sørensen's allegations and Papadakis's memoir. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron have largely declined further comment on the issues, while Papadakis continues to advocate for "excluded voices."