NBC Sports has removed retired French ice dancer Gabriella Papadakis from its commentary team for the upcoming Winter Olympics, following the release of her memoir containing serious allegations against her former skating partner, Guillaume Cizeron.
The Conflict of Interest Cited by NBC
The network confirmed the decision on Thursday, the same day Papadakis released her book, 'Pour ne pas disparaître (So as Not to Disappear)'. In a statement provided to Sportico, NBC said it respected Papadakis's right to share her story but that the book had created a clear conflict of interest.
'Our responsibility is to deliver coverage that our audience can trust to be free of bias - whether actual or perceived - and we regret that is no longer possible given the circumstances,' the network stated. Papadakis had only begun her role as an Ice Dance analyst for NBC Sports in January 2025 and was slated to be a key part of their Winter Games coverage next month.
Allegations in the Memoir and Cizeron's Response
In her book, Papadakis describes Cizeron's behaviour as 'controlling, demanding' and 'critical'. She alleges she eventually refused to skate with him as she often felt 'under his grip'. The memoir also details other deeply personal struggles from her teenage years, including sexual assaults and an experience of abortion.
Guillaume Cizeron, who is preparing to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a new partner, Laurence Fournier Beaudry, swiftly issued a statement refuting the claims. He labelled the book a 'smear campaign' and expressed his 'incomprehension and disagreement' with the allegations.
'These allegations arise at a particularly sensitive time... thereby raising questions about the underlying intentions behind this campaign,' Cizeron said. He denied making statements attributed to him and stated he had asked his lawyers to formally notify all parties to cease the dissemination of what he called defamatory statements.
A Glittering Partnership Now Fractured
Papadakis and Cizeron, childhood skating partners, were one of the most successful duos in ice dance history before ending their sporting partnership in December 2024. Their accolades include:
- Olympic gold at the Beijing Games (breaking their own world record)
- An Olympic silver medal
- Five World Championship titles
- Five European Championship titles
- Two Grand Prix Final victories
Despite the current controversy, Cizeron concluded his statement by noting their 'equal collaboration' over more than 20 years, which he said was marked by success and mutual support. NBC had previously announced an 82-person roster for its Games coverage, from which Papadakis has now been withdrawn.
