ABC
With The Whack Heard 'Round the World in the public eye thanks to "I, Tonya," Tonya Harding is back in the news and speaking out on the vicious attack on Nancy Kerrigan.
The disgraced former figure skater shared her side of the story with ABC for an upcoming two-hour special, "Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story," in which she talked about her volatile relationship with her mother, alleged abuse from ex Jeff Gillooly and her involvement in the incident that became one of the most talked about moments of the '90s.
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View StoryGillooly hired Shane Stant to attack Kerrigan, who was struck on her landing knee with a police baton after walking off the ice on January 6, 1994, the day before the qualifiers for the 1994 Winter Olympics. While Kerrigan's knee wasn't fractured, there was bruising and swelling and she ultimately withdrew from the qualifiers. Harding came in first at the event.
Gillooly and three other men were quickly sentenced to prison for the attack, which Gillooly alleged Harding knew about beforehand. Though Harding has denied this, she somewhat changed her tune in the trailer for the special.
"I knew that something was up," she explained in a preview. When asked if she ever said "Let's do this," Harding added, "No, I did however hear them talking about stuff. 'Well, maybe we should take somebody out so we can make sure she gets on the team.' I go, 'What the hell are you talking about?'"
She added that she believes she was a "pawn" in the scenario.
Harding also reacted to the video showing Kerrigan's "Why me?!" screams of pain after the hit. "It makes you cringe, hearing it, because you know how much it had to have hurt," she said.
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View StoryOf her mother, Harding also added, "She wants forgiveness, she wants to see me, she wants to make amends, she wants to meet and be part of the family. Hell no!"
These days, the now 47-year-old is married and has one child, a 6-year-old son named Gordon. "My family, we are a loving family," she said. "I get my second chance on life to be loved and happy."
The special, which will include interviews with Connie Chung, Harding's coaches, Margot Robbie, Allison Janney and Sebastian Stan, airs Thursday, January 11 on ABC.
