Amber Glenn’s gold medal moment turns tense after politics backlash and a surprise copyright dispute

Figure skater Amber Glenn had little time to enjoy her Olympic team gold medal before controversy followed. As detailed by AP News, the American skater won gold in Milan, Italy, but soon found herself facing an unexpected music copyright dispute tied to her free skate routine.

The issue emerged when Canadian artist Seb McKinnon, who performs under the name CLANN, publicly objected to the use of his song “The Return.” Glenn has reportedly skated to the music for roughly two years without any previous problems, making the timing of the complaint particularly abrupt following her Olympic success.

McKinnon raised the issue on social media after the team competition concluded. In a post, he questioned whether it was standard practice for Olympic skaters to use music without permission, noting that the performance aired globally, a controversy coming amid broader public debate similar to the lingering discussion around the Federal Communications Commission’s probe into a daytime talk show’s political content.

A copyright dispute quickly followed the celebration

Music licensing in figure skating is often complex, with skaters required to secure rights that can be split among labels, producers, and artists. Routines are frequently edited from multiple pieces, and third-party licensing services are sometimes involved, which can complicate responsibility and oversight.

McKinnon said his own agreement is straightforward, stating that he alone has the authority to approve licensing of his music. While he said he was looking into the matter, he also congratulated Glenn publicly on her gold medal performance.

Glenn was unavailable for comment on the copyright issue on Monday. She is expected to leave Milan briefly to train elsewhere ahead of the women’s individual event, which begins with the short program on February 17.

The copyright question is not the only controversy surrounding Glenn at the Milan Cortina Games. She has received widespread social media backlash after comments she made before the Olympics about the current political climate in the United States, an environment that has seen heated reactions to presidential posts and videos.

During a pre-Games press conference, Glenn said the queer community was going through a “hard time,” remarks that later circulated widely online. She subsequently received threats and stepped away from social media as the criticism intensified.

She said she was disappointed by the volume of harmful messages directed at her for speaking about human rights and decency, adding that the experience diminished some of the excitement surrounding her gold medal.