The pair of Canadian figure skaters who left hordes of fans wishing they were dating after displaying their incredible chemistry during the Olympics have insisted their relationship is strictly platonic.
Tessa Virtue, 28, and Scott Moir, 30, made headlines for their breathtaking performances during the PyeongChang Winter Games last month—and captivated viewers with their sultry routines.
Their Moulin-Rouge-themed performance, in particular, helped them win the ice dance gold, but also left many viewers convinced that the routine was just too sexy to be faked.
Not happening: Canadian figure skaters Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue have insisted they are not a couple, despite fans wishing they were dating
Statement: The pair visited Ellen DeGeneres’ show earlier this week and maintained they are in fact not romantically involved
Sizzling: Tessa, 28, and Scott, 30, made headlines for their breathtaking performances during the Winter Games last month—and captivated viewers with their sultry routines
Past: Scott did admit that the two did in fact ‘date’ when they were childhood sweethearts, but ‘didn’t talk to each other’ and were left holding hands and avoiding eye contact
Still, Tessa and Scott, who have become the most decorated figure skaters in Olympics history, visited Ellen DeGeneres’ show earlier this week and maintained they are in fact not romantically involved.
When Ellen asked them, plainly, ‘Are you a couple?’ Tessa, who called herself and Scott ‘fiercely private’ clearly answered: ‘We’re not.’
She then explained that she and Scott take it as a ‘big compliment’ when people think the two are in a relationship, because it means their romantic routines are convincing.
‘What we portray on the ice is really important to us and we love getting into character, we love telling a story,’ Tessa said.
‘A lot of the emotions we portray are universal themes that resonate with everyone, so the fact that people feel invested in our partnership is truly remarkable.
‘We’ve spent 20 years working hard on this partnership—a lot of trust and mostly, in those moments when the music ended in PyeongChang I just looked at Scott and I was so grateful to have lived the last 20 years by his side and to share that moment together.’
Questions: The pair played a round of the Definitely Not Dating game to test their knowledge of each other’s tastes. Tessa correctly guessed Scott’s favorite TV show
Tasty: Scott correctly guessed that Tessa’s favorite ‘guilty pleasure’ is chocolate, although he did say she shouldn’t feel guilty about eating it
Scary: Tessa went on to score another point by revealing that Scott’s biggest fear is mascots
Uh oh: Scott failed to say that if his partner is hangry, he should get her breakfast
If the two were in fact a couple, they would have chosen to announce it on Ellen’s show, Tessa added.
Scott did admit that the two did in fact ‘date’ when they were childhood sweethearts, but ‘didn’t talk to each other’ and were left holding hands and avoiding eye contact.
‘In order to advance our partnership, we had to put the hot and heavy relationship on the side,’ Scott said, with Tessa adding: ‘Which meant you had to break up with me.’
‘I broke up with Tessa and none of my friends have let me live that down since,’ Scott said.
Scott and Tessa’s former coach Paul MacIntosh told The Canadian Press about their childhood fling earlier this year, likely to the delight of those rooting for the pair to become a couple.
Paul recounted how Scott, then nine, and Tessa, then seven, would claim they were dating but remained so shy they almost didn’t speak to or look at each other.
‘The whole world would like them to date. But they were “dating” at age nine and seven, and I think Scotty broke it off,’ the former coach added. ‘And he would say that’s 19 or 20 years of regret.’
Choices: Tessa at one point failed to determine whether Scott prefers boxers or briefs, answering the latter when the correct response was boxers
Decisions: Scott upped his score by stating that if Tessa were to pick an actress to play her in a movie, she would choose Emma Watson
Secrets: Tessa scored another point by stating that Scott’s celebrity crush is Reese Witherspoon in Walk The Line—although Scott said J-Lo would be an acceptable answer too
Chemistry: Scott and Tessa made headlines for their breathtaking—and sultry— performances during the PyeongChang Winter Games last month
Debate: During the Olympics, the exact nature of Tessa and Scott’s relationship became a subject of passionate discussion on Twitter
Scott and Tessa then played a round of the Definitely Not Dating game with Ellen in order to test their chemistry and knowledge of each other’s tastes.
Tessa correctly answered that Scott’s favorite TV show is The Office, but he failed to say that if his partner is hangry, he should get her breakfast.
Still, Tessa scored another point by stating that Scott’s celebrity crush is Reese Witherspoon in Walk The Line—although Scott had said that J-Lo would be an acceptable answer as well.
Scott managed to guess that Tessa’s ‘guilty pleasure’ is chocolate, although he did say she shouldn’t feel guilty about eating it.
Tessa then failed to determine whether Scott prefers boxers or briefs, answering the latter when the correct response was boxers.
Scott upped his score by stating that if Tessa were to pick an actress to play her in a movie, she would choose Emma Watson, and Tessa successfully answered that Scott’s biggest fear is mascots.
As for Tessa’s go-to coffee order, Scott guessed it was a flat white, when the correct answer was almond milk cappuccino.
‘Well, it’s good you all aren’t together,’ Ellen quipped.
Old friends: The athletes have been skating together since they were children, and have so far maintained their relationship is platonic
Rooting for them: Some Twitter users, however, have delighted in posting photos and gifs of the duo to reflect their obvious chemistry
During the Olympics, the exact nature of Tessa and Scott’s relationship became a subject of passionate discussion on Twitter, with fans wishing for the romance they displayed on the ice to be true.
Twitter users delighted in posting photos and gifs of the duo to reflect their obvious chemistry.
‘#VirtueMoir just skated,’ one Twitter user wrote, referring to the couple by its own dedicated hashtag. ‘Winter Olympics are over. They melted all of the ice. Everyone is pregnant. We’re all Canadian now.’
‘Honestly, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have more chemistry in any single moment of a four-minute performance than exists in the ENTIRE ‘Fifty Shades’ trilogy,’ someone else added.
Theme: A lot of the reactions came after Scott and Tessa performed their Moulin Rouge routine
Bond: Someone commented on the meaningful looks the pair have given each other
Comments: Another person deemed the pair’s routines sexier than the entire Fifty Shades Of Grey trilogy
Another person begged the couple: ‘JUST SAY YOU’RE IN LOVE ALREADY’ while one drew their own conclusions, writing: ‘I DON’T CARE WHAT MEDAL THEY WIN ANYMORE. THEY’RE IN LOVE.’
A lot of the reactions came after Scott and Tessa performed their Moulin Rouge routine, which they considered toning down for fear it would be too sexy for the judges.
One move in particular, which saw Tessa sitting on Scott’s shoulders while facing him, was almost removed, but the duo chose to keep it in the end.
Leslie Jones swooned over the duo while commentating one of their routines with Adam Rippon last month, asking: ‘Are they getting in trouble for how sexy they are?’
‘Are they dating? Yes, they’re dating. There’s no way you can do that together and not date,’ Leslie added in the segment. ‘They’ve kissed each other at least once.’
Statement: Scott and Tessa have been asked about their relationship in the past and have described it as professional
Throwback: Scott and Tessa (pictured in an archive photo) were in fact childhood sweethearts, although Scott broke up with his skating partner