February 24, 2014, - 12:22 pm

Tonya & Nancy: Did You See Documentary, Nancy Kerrigan’s Bob Costas Interview? (Turns Out it’s Well-Coached PR Lies)

By Debbie Schlussel

Did you see the “Nancy & Tonya” documentary (about Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding) on NBC last night? I found it very entertaining, and I already gave you my take on the 20th anniversary, back in January (the knee-clubbing was the best thing that ever happened to Kerrigan, making her a star and a multi-millionaire, and she should thank Harding). But what was as riveting as the documentary was Bob Costas’ interview with Kerrigan afterward.

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Although I’ve never been a big fan of hers, I respected how classy and gracious Kerrigan was toward Harding and how forgiving. I commented about it on Twitter (follow me on Twitter). It seemed sincere and genuine, though I wondered in the back of my head if this overly-effusive, extremely gracious response was coached by Kerrigan’s publicity people. And, now, I know that’s exactly what it was, so I’m not impressed anymore. Today, while looking for video of that interview, I found an interview Kerrigan did just last week, posted below, in which she said the exact opposite of what she told Costas. It’s clear that her reversal last night was well-coached PR bunk. An interview Kerrigan did last week with NBC’s Willie Geist makes it clear that Kerrigan was lying, last night, when she said she forgives Harding and that she doesn’t think it matters if Harding knew about the attack on her at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena in January 1994.

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I wish I could post the Bob Costas interview from last night (and the documentary), but NBC doesn’t provide the embed code, so you have to watch it here. I also wish I could embed the documentary, but I can no longer post (or even watch online) many broadcast network videos I used to post on this site because the major networks have a new numbskull policy that if you don’t subscribe to cable (and I don’t), you can’t watch their videos online. I’ll be posting more on this stupidity soon, but it’s really absurd and nonsensical. In the meantime, for those of you who subscribe to cable, I think the link to it all is here. But, below, is the interview Kerrigan did with Geist. Last night, Kerrigan told Costas she completely forgives Tonya Harding and that she doesn’t care or think it matters if Tonya Harding knew of the attack on her. But that’s a complete 180 from what she told Geist. You get a completely different impression of her, especially if you saw last night’s live interview with Costas. Watch it at the link I provided above and then watch this video, posted above, from just a few days ago. This woman is not honest.






While, again, I think that the knee-clubbing was the best thing financially and star-power-wise that could ever have happened to this figure skater, I can understand her not forgiving Harding and being upset about the possible plans to kill her (Kerrigan). But don’t lie and do a complete about face in a matter of days because you want to come off looking good.

It’s sooooo phony.

So, did you see the documentary last night and the Costas-Kerrigan interview that followed? What did you think?




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24 Responses

No, I did not. Ice skating was never of much interest to me,

Worry on February 24, 2014 at 2:12 pm

Figure skating / ice dancing are all about politics, optics, hype and exploitation. If you’re into that kind of infantile intrigue, fill your boots.

But I do have to admit that the skaters have some serious skills to make it to the big stage. It’s just that the organizations and competitions tend to be on the corrupt side.

The Reverend Jacques on February 24, 2014 at 2:33 pm

She might be launching some product that she endorses and or produces or, she is writing a book. I’m guessing might be the reason for the reversal..
Pecuniary interests always win.

Gino on February 24, 2014 at 2:34 pm

Why Why Whyyy should I give a rats patootie

Sam on February 24, 2014 at 2:51 pm

Debbie, do you have Netflix? There is an ESPN documentary (the Price of Gold) about Tonya Harding (I just watched it last week) and it is very good. I felt very bad for Tonya Harding — she didn’t have a good family support system and I think those horrible men she was around are mostly to blame for the attack on Nancy Kerrigan.

MomInMinnesota on February 24, 2014 at 3:06 pm

I was more interested in the closing ceremony than in the Lillehammer feud.

Its gotten old! Who the heck cares? It may have been entertaining back in the day but if Bob Costas needed to fill the airtime for lack something new, I think he chose the wrong subject.

The only reason to revive it was for the ratings. I don’t think most people have a clue as to what it was all about back in the day.

NormanF on February 24, 2014 at 3:14 pm

One more thing: The network news people to require viewers to have cable or satellite tv. People will just get their news elsewhere (like from Debbieschlussel.com).

I haven’t been able to afford cable tv in 18 years. I can’t be the only one.

MomInMinnesota on February 24, 2014 at 3:16 pm

1. No, did not watch 2. Won’t watch anything with Bo Costas in it ever again 3. Pretty sure Bob Costas and Bruce Jenner are dating.

Jack on February 24, 2014 at 4:17 pm

Bob Costas turns my stomach. No idea how or why he became popular. His little, sadly-serious, froggy-frowny face and pretentious. pseudo-intellectual delivery is annoying beyond compare.

DS_ROCKS! on February 24, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    Probably the best and most accurate analysis of Costas I have ever heard. You’re on a roll today, buddy. Thanks for the wisdom.

    Alfredo from Puerto Rico on February 24, 2014 at 9:28 pm

The most jaw dropping part of the whole thing was when Costas is interviewing Kerringan and says “You had already seen the movie. I’m seeing it for the first time”.
What professional journalist interviews somebody about a movie your network just aired and you haven’t taken the time to do your homework and watch it beforehand?
This is the sort of unprofessionalism you would expect in a college class on journalism.
If Costas doesn’t care enough to watch it, why should anybody else?

I agree with the earlier comment-er. Harding has gotten a raw deal out the whole thing. Even if she planned the whole thing. She didn’t have the power to make this happen. I strongly suspect the men that did this also planned it.

Steve G on February 24, 2014 at 7:58 pm

great call DEB.

I thought the interview was contrived and Kerrigan seemed to contradict herself on the Costa interview.

another fluff piece in the on going “bread and circuses” USA.

General P. Malaise on February 24, 2014 at 8:28 pm

The documentary reminded me of what I most remember from that whole saga – how cute Nancy’s butt looked in those skating outfits.

Also, I’m really tired of seeing all the same people all the time, i.e. Costas, Scott Hamilton, Viera, Lauer, etc, etc.

Matt on February 24, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    It’s not about the news or journalism. It’s about them and their agenda and or the network’s agenda.

    Pray Hard on February 25, 2014 at 10:36 am

A pathetic story with little interest or relevance 20 years latter.

Bull Moose on February 25, 2014 at 8:53 am

This is a good example of blaming the victim. Nancy Kerrigan is the victim in this case. She did not contradict herself in any way. She didn’t even say anything nasty about Tonya in EITHER interview. And let me tell you, if someone plotted to have me attacked and maimed, or KILLED, I would hate them and so would anyone else.

Nancy Kerrigan is not lying and why would she lie anyway? She has nothing to hide because she did nothing wrong. The only person who has something to lie about is Tonya Harding and she lied throughout that documentary. Nancy was victimized by this woman and she has every right to her feelings about it. I can’t believe someone is attacking her when it is Tonya who conspired to harm Nancy, and it is Tonya who is STILL badmouthing Nancy and has the nerve to try to pass herself off as the victim. What a joke.

I searched for this topic to find out whether Tonya Harding, who is a psychopath by the way, had responded to Nancy’s gracious interview, and instead I find this nonsense. I’m really disgusted to see an innocent victim of a violent crime be called dishonest and to be attacked, and for what? She is totally innocent! What a shame.

Darce on February 25, 2014 at 9:02 am

Debbie, We only watch women who wrassle !!!

JohnnyAngel Advocacy on February 25, 2014 at 9:11 am

I didn’t even watch one minute of the Olympics. I’m simply glad that there were no terror attacks. How is this relevant to this article? I don’t know. Oh, Tanya Harding’s a pig.

Pray Hard on February 25, 2014 at 10:48 am

One interview was on PMS-NBC, with a very small audience. NBC had a much larger audience for their Olympic coverage. Maybe she figured who would remember what she said to 35,000 people? Who knows. Didn’t watch either, considering the networks on which they were aired.

JeffT on February 25, 2014 at 4:15 pm

I really don’t care about the winter Olympics and I can’t stand Bob Costas. That sanctimonious little troll of a man tries to sound smart but he comes across as a big smarmy phony. His liberal leftwing hackery is enough make me want to watch Matt Lauer. I’m just kidding folks Lauer is another liberal jackenape who suffers from cranial rectalitis. As to the Nancy Kerrigan interview. I didn’t care about what she had to say then, don’t care now and won’t care 20 years from now. Oh and I won’t care 4 years from now when the winter Olympics go to South Korea. Hopefully little Bob will be replaced by someone better at NBC. Oh wait they all suck never mind.

Ken b on February 25, 2014 at 7:37 pm

even if Tonya knew ahead of time, its the ex-husband who planned the whole thing, goggle him, jeff gilooly, (stone now)

Rachel on February 27, 2014 at 11:47 pm

I think that Nancy sounds the same in both videos. She is a very kind and gracious sounding person. I think that is why she still looks so young and happy and has a positive outlook on life. Everything she said in both interviews made sense to me. I don’t think that Tanya necessarily knew what her ex-husband, who was violent to her, or his shady friends were planning. They could have discussed it joking around and then the ex used that to get her back for dumping him.

If he could make Tanya look like she had to order a hit to win a sporting event, all of her talent and training would look like it was for nothing. That would be a good way of getting his wife back. Maybe even someone paid him to cook up this plot to take out Nancy Kerrigan. Nancy seems like such a humble and strong person. She seems like she would be a great role model and sports hero for kids to look up to. Maybe that isn’t the type of person those in power wanted to see others looking up to and admiring.

You do have to kind of feel bad for Tanya because she really had no real family and was like a kid on the streets. People would be apt to believe something bad and dirty about her even if it wasn’t true just because of her background.

bb on March 1, 2014 at 12:08 pm

The “30 for 30” episode was illuminating for how rarified ice skating, particularly women’s ice skating, is and how only the right type of skaters are permitted. Tonya was a young, tough, immature broad with not much of a support system, who just happened to be athletically superior to anyone taking the ice at that time. She was scary good, but emotionally wild. Today, she would be gathered up at a young age by a team of investors, PR people, coaches, etc. (think Michelle Li) and groomed for success and great wealth. Even though it’s only 20 years ago, it’s like a different lifetime. I remember going to watch Randy Gardner and Tai Babalonia compete for the Western United States Championship (or something like that) in Burbank, CA, as a run up to the Olympic try-outs and Babalonia’s dad had driven her to the rink, parked in the parking lot, they’d walked with all the early arriving fans into the rink through the same door. When competition began, I walked right down to the door where the skaters come on and off the ice and just stood there, Tai and Randy about 2 feet away from me. Think any of that happens nowadays?

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