USA's Gus Kenworthy 'happy' that kiss with BF filmed at Olympics

Feb. 19 (UPI) -- American freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy says he is happy that a kiss with his boyfriend was filmed during the 2018 Winter Games.

The kiss occurred between Kenworthy and actor Matt Wilkas on Saturday in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Kenworthy, 26, went over to kiss his boyfriend before he performed a qualifying run for the men's slopestyle event. Nearby NBC cameras captured the moment, which aired on its platforms, reaching millions of viewers.

"Didn't realize this moment was being filmed yesterday but I'm so happy that it was," Kenworthy tweeted.

"My childhood self would never have dreamed of seeing a gay kiss on TV at the Olympics but for the first time ever a kid watching at home CAN! Love is love is love."

Kenworthy was the 2014 Olympic slopestyle silver medalist. He was born in London, but his family moved to the United States when he was 2-years-old.

American figure skater Adam Rippon and Kenworthy are the only openly gay male Winter Olympians to ever compete for Team USA.

"Wow okay, I just whimpered to myself 'so beautiful,'" Rippon tweeted in response to the kiss and Kenworthy's tweet about it.

Kenworthy finished 12th in the men's slopestyle final at the 2018 Winter Games. He did not qualify for the men's halfpipe team.

"I can't really speak for Gus. I can only assume it's monumental for him," Wilkas told NBC after exchanging the kiss with Kenworthy.

"I think it's overwhelming. I think he probably won't be able to fully process it until later. This whole experience has been unexpectedly moving for him. I think he feels the pressure of it. The pressure of representing the community here and wanting do so well here for people who love him and also people who hate him and are wishing him to not do well just because of who he is. The pressure of that is intense for him."