Anytime Fitness Blasted For ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Workout With Image Of Kneeling Man
Image via Shutterstock
Health and gym club Anytime Fitness has apologized after a franchise promoted an ‘I Can’t Breathe’ workout claiming to be in honor of George Floyd.
The gym’s cofounders Chuck Runyon and Dave Mortensen, as well as the brand’s president Stacy Anderson, released a statement on Twitter stating that they were “truly and profoundly sorry,” and condemned the routine introduced by a franchise in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
The gym displayed a sign with steps including burpees and rowing, and described, “And don’t you dare lay down,” alongside a drawing of a kneeling person.
The sign sparked anger online for using the words “I can’t breathe,” as those were the last words spoken by Floyd before he died.
The co-founders have since dismissed the regime as “shocking and devastating.”
“No matter the intent, we absolutely do not condone the words, illustrations or actions this represents,” they said. “We remain committed to working to inform and educate employees and owners worldwide to stand for our black communities including our members and employees.”
Oh yeah? Check out this workout provided this am by your Wauwatosa Wisconsin US of A Anytime Fitness. Regardless of your feelings on #GeorgeFloyd this is openly mocking him. pic.twitter.com/pAQotcBh96
— horhay🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@notDEBUNKED) June 10, 2020
The intent was to create a workout to depict #GeorgeFloyd’s final moments... and they thought this was a fitting tribute Anytime Fitness Wauwatosa Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/PG2zVS0w9N
— Innocuous Dove (@DoveInnocuous) June 10, 2020
A statement from Anytime Fitness Co-Founders and Brand President regarding Wauwatosa, WI incident pic.twitter.com/qUmeaeQ5eT
— Anytime Fitness (@AnytimeFitness) June 10, 2020
If you haven’t fired the employee/s that did this, then your apology is meaningless.
— Jeff Miracola (@JeffMiracola) June 10, 2020
This is unacceptable. The franchise needs to be pulled immediately as well as firing that trainer. Absolutely disgusting.
— Chelsie Layman (@chelsielayman) June 11, 2020
[via CBS News, opening image via Shutterstock]
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