Rest assured: Adam Rippon‘s butt is 100 percent real.
The figure skater, 28, is currently competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and his perfectly round posterior is lighting up Twitter with people wondering if Rippon enhances his shape with butt pads. But luckily, he cleared the air on that back in December.
“There’s been a lot questions to whether I compete with butt pads on and I’d like to set the record straight and let it be known that no, it’s just my real butt. Thank you for your interest, comments, and concern. Love you,” Rippon tweeted on Dec. 9.
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He elaborated further on this important issue during an interview with Access Hollywood ahead of the games.
“It is all natural, yes,” Rippon said, adding that he decided to post the above tweet after a debate on Twitter. “One time someone said, ‘Oh you skated so well but were the butt pads necessary?’ And I was like, hmm, alright, I’ll let it slide. And then someone tried to defend me and they were like, ‘Well, they’re probably there for safety!’ and I was like oh boy. We need to clarify something.”
RELATED VIDEO: Meet Olympic Figure Skater Adam Rippon: ‘I Love to Be Different’
People’s special issue The Best of Olympic Figure Skating is available now in the Time Inc. store, on Amazon and wherever magazines are sold.
And after Rippon’s elegant performance in the team event on Sunday night, Twitter erupted with appreciation for his backside.
Adam Rippon’s butt has a duty to run for office
— Ryan Houlihan (@RyanHoulihan) February 12, 2018
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*starts a tumblr account dedicated to adam rippon’s butt and leg muscles*
— Julia Alonzo (@juliaalonzo_) February 12, 2018
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Adam Rippon has the most incredible butt I have ever seen
— Katie (@WizzKhaleesi) February 12, 2018
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Guys, I’m comfortable enough with myself that I can admit I’m wondering just how different my life would be if I had a butt as well formed as Adam Rippon’s#Olympics #OlympicGames2018
— Scholarly Beard (@Tuscon_Valdez) February 12, 2018
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Adam Rippon’s butt looks like it would give you a concussion if you hit your head on it and that’s what’s gonna get me up in the morning for a while
— Uncle Porkstar (@emayybee) February 12, 2018
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Now halfway through the 2018 Games, from his butt to his incredible interviews, it’s clear that Rippon is already the star.
The 2018 Winter Olympics are airing live on NBC. To learn more, visit teamusa.org.