Gym blasted for George Floyd-inspired ‘I can’t breathe’ exercise routine
Many members but many have branded it insensitive if not racist.
A gym sparked outrage after is posted an ‘I Can’t Breathe’ workout in an apparent reference to George Floyd’s death.
The Anytime Fitness location in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin was met with backlash after it posted the workout which featured a black man kneeling down with the words: ‘And don’t you dare lay down.’
Jen Dunnington, co-owner of the gym, told TMZ that one of her trainers tried to ‘honor’ Floyd by posting the 35-minute workout mean to be ‘so hard that we felt what he felt.’
However, many members but many have branded it insensitive if not racist.
One member identified only as Monica, told Fox 6 she considered the sign to be ‘very insensitive.’
‘There are so many other productive ways to support the Black Lives Matter cause, and so many better ways to honor George Floyd. Doing burpees and rows is not a way to help,’ she continued.
Leon Ward said: ‘It’s obvious that (the person who posted the workout) is trying to demean (Floyd’s death) because what’s the sense in posting it.’
Dunnington has since apologized and said the ‘I Can’t Breathe’ line was meant to be a motivator. As for the ‘lay down’ line, she said ‘I apologize that it said that. The line on there should not have been on there.’
On their Facebook page, Anytime Fitness in Wauwatosa wrote: ‘We are terribly sorry for our actions this week by offering an “I Can’t Breathe” workout. No matter our intent, we now recognize how deeply offensive our words, illustrations and actions have been.
;One of the publicly-stated commitments to antiracism work by the owner of the Anytime Fitness brand, Self Esteem Brands, is to bolster education efforts for its franchise owners to lead with empathy, love and respect.’
‘We obviously have work to do within our own location, and we will work hard to earn back your trust and respect. We stand with our black community, and again, we are so very sorry for this insensitive move.’
According to Anytime Fitness corporate, the trainer who created and promoted the workout has been placed on leave.
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