French ice dance champion Guillaume Cizeron has accused his former partner Gabriella Papadakis of spreading false information about him ahead of the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Games. Cizeron, now partnered with Laurence Fournier Beaudry, claims that Papadakis is fueling a smear campaign against him through a book titled “So as Not to Disappear,” set to be released soon.
Papadakis and Cizeron, renowned for their success in ice dance, decided to end their partnership in December 2024 after achieving numerous accolades in figure skating. The duo set a world record at the Beijing Games, secured an Olympic silver medal, clinched five world championships, and claimed five European Championships titles. Additionally, they triumphed in the Grand Prix Final twice.
In excerpts from her book, Papadakis described her past relationship with Cizeron as imbalanced, portraying him as a controlling and demanding partner. She expressed feeling trapped and under his influence over time. Cizeron questioned the timing of the book release, just weeks before the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on Feb. 6.
Denying the allegations, Cizeron expressed bewilderment and disagreement with the negative portrayal of him. He criticized the book for containing false information and statements he never made, questioning the motives behind the campaign against him. Cizeron has taken legal action to stop the spread of defamatory remarks about him.
Papadakis also disclosed personal struggles she faced during her teenage years, including sexual assaults and abortion experiences. She mentioned feeling fear about being alone with Cizeron at a certain point in their relationship. Despite the rift between them over the years, Cizeron emphasized the respect he has for Papadakis and highlighted the successful collaboration they shared.
Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry have been making strides as a new pair, winning competitions like the Grand Prix de France and the Finlandia Trophy. Fournier Beaudry, who previously competed for Canada, obtained French citizenship, paving the way for their joint participation in the Olympics, where they are anticipated to be strong contenders.