Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu has always been known for artistry on the ice. But this week, she made headlines for her decision to drop her 2025-26 short program music, “This Is How It Feels” by D4vd.
The choice comes amid a criminal investigation into the singer, whose Los Angeles home was raided by police last month in connection with the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas.
Liu explained her decision as one of principle: “Figure skating is about storytelling. I can’t tell that story authentically anymore.”
Her pivot underscores how celebrity controversy ripples far beyond its source. For athletes like Liu, music is part of identity and Los Angeles, home to both Hollywood and skating culture, is where those intersections play out on ice, in headlines, and in history.
