There are two types of people in the world. Those that are highly motivated and never skip their exercise regimen. And the rest, that have gym memberships but are guilty of skipping from time to time. On some days because it feels physically impossible to get out of bed and on others, due to laziness. Which is probably why gyms play peppy music and have positive and inspiring posters on the walls. To give people a bit of a nudge and encouragement to work out.
Twitter user @MoraReinka however, received a promotional email from the gym ‘Anytime Fitness’ which had fat shaming overtones. She shared a screenshot of it on social media. Take a look.
I…am horrified by this promotional email from @AnytimeFitness. I just don’t even know where to begin pic.twitter.com/6DOBq9sfiI
— Mora Reinka (@MoraReinka) June 12, 2019
It read, “Take your hand, and grab the excess you have on your waist (front/back/sides). Can you pinch it? Or can you grab it?”
The post received many comments from netizens who said that such language was unacceptable. A few asked her to change her gym but there were also those who believed that she was being oversensitive about the issue.
The email didn’t go over well with the internet and the gym’s Media Director had to step in and apologise.
@AnytimeFitness – shame on you
— Dr Nikki Stamp FRACS (@drnikkistamp) June 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/finnterests/status/1139583518240071688
— Rachael ♔ Divers (@RachaelDivers) June 14, 2019
@AnytimeFitness this is disgraceful how on Earth is anyone meant to feel “comfortable in their skin” after an email like that! It’s disgusting… an attempt at humour or not that was blatant shaming 😔😔😔
— Kathryn-anne Rivers (@KathrynARivers) June 13, 2019
Corporate bullshit they don’t even care about people’s health they just care about money
— Alex Ortega (@alexortega1808) June 15, 2019
Not joining this gym!
— Robin Baskin (@NotBaskinRobbin) June 13, 2019
Mark Daly, National Media/Public Relations Director of Anytime Fitness assured everyone that the franchise and its owner would receive training and future promotional material would have supportive messaging.
@MoraReinka – On behalf Anytime Fitness, please accept my apologies for the message you received from one of our franchisees. We pride ourselves on being supportive and encouraging – never shaming. I will contact the owner of the gym immediately.
— Mark Daly (@MarkDDaly) June 13, 2019
Mora – I just spoke with the franchisee owner of the gym and expressed our disappointment. He apologized for his ill-advised attempt at humor and promised not to send similar messages to others. We will be re-training him to be supportive and encouraging.
— Mark Daly (@MarkDDaly) June 13, 2019
What do you make of the email – Can it be passed off as humour or does it set a bad example? Tell us.