I’ve never been to a Planet Fitness, but it’s always appeared to me as a weird place. On the surface, it comes off as a place to work out for people who don’t really work out. With the “judgement free zone” slogan, the “Lunk Alarm” and its various rules about lifting heavy and dropping weights, the free pizza Mondays or whatever that promotion is… it just comes off a little, perhaps “unserious” is the word?
And I get it, you have to start somewhere, and going to a gym can be extremely intimidating for the first time, especially if you’ve never been to one before and you don’t have a long history of working out. You’re just trying to shed a few pounds while dudes next to you look like they’re training for Mr. Universe… I get why it’s easy to feel like you don’t belong there. So, they essentially built a workout empire (that is way cheaper than most gyms, by the way) where making you feel comfortable is the priority.
Fair enough…
However, Planet Fitness stock (both literally and figuratively) took a hit in March when they banned a woman (Patricia Silva) from their facilities after she shared a photo of a man shaving his face in the woman’s locker room. According to the New York Post, the man said he was “transitioning” and he was accompanied by a Planet Fitness employee in the locker room, however when she complained to the employee that he should leave, she was told to use a stall if she was uncomfortable.
After she posted the photo, Planet Fitness revoked the woman’s membership and released the following statement:
“As the home of the Judgement Free Zone, Planet Fitness is committed to creating an inclusive environment. Our gender identity non-discrimination policy states that members and guests may use the gym facilities that best align with their sincere, self-reported gender identity. The member who posted on social media violated our mobile device policy that prohibits taking photos of individuals in the locker room, which resulted in their membership being terminated.”
That move didn’t sit well with some folks, and much like we saw with Bud Light, Planet Fitness has now reporting significant losses in the wake of the backlash. Chief Financial Officer Tom Fitzgerald reported last week:
“The first part of March was pretty good, and then once social media sort of blew up over our policy issue, we definitely saw a change in the results in the back half of March. Joins and cancels were fairly significantly affected. The good news is we’ve seen the joins rebound, but cancels have remained elevated.”
In March, it was reported that company’s value tanked $400 million while people continued to call for boycotts. The company has also raised its prices for the first time since 1998.
Which brings us to country music’s own Tim McGraw. Tim is probably the poster boy (poster man?) for physical fitness in the country music industry as the 57-year-old might be in the best shape of anybody in the entire genre. We’re talking about the entertainment business… lots of stage time, adoring fans… being in good shape is part of the deal and Tim McGraw is doing it as well as anybody.
Tim McGraw and any gym seem like a match made in Heaven from a partnership standpoint. I mean, who better to sell a fitness product than a man who is in better shape than most people half his age? However, given the current public opinion on Planet Fitness, it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Tim partnered with Planet Fitness to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well as give people a chance to have a free first month at Planet Fitness, and let’s just say the partnership isn’t going over so well with some of Tim McGraw’s fans.
https://twitter.com/TheTimMcGraw/status/1795163690469122084
The comments, many from longtime fans, were less than stellar:
Oh Tim. @PlanetFitness bro? They allow men in women’s bathrooms. Just not right. https://t.co/6HoKCLlVKA
— Diane 💁🏼♀️ (@hellodiane_) May 27, 2024
Seriously, you had to partner with a company who doesn’t give a damn about actual women’s safety. So disappointing.
— 🔥 Melissa Armstrong 🪈 (@marmstrong2014) May 27, 2024
So disappointed in this collaboration with @PlanetFitness & you Tim. Maybe check out their policies & how they might affect women.
— Shel Leslie (@lesliewifey13) May 27, 2024
Sorry Tim, but if you support men having access to women’s dressing rooms and showers then I can’t support you. (Planet Fitness Has Been ‘Pretty Much Destroyed,’ Says Company Founder Amid Speculation On Boycott Cancellations (https://t.co/FiB8FZwt0o)
— Texas Parabellum (@TexasParabellum) May 27, 2024
So you are OK with men (That is people with a p3n1s) in the women’s locker room with teen girls? Let us know, Tim. Thanks.
— Legally Protected. (@DaveC000) May 27, 2024
Really Tim…they encourage men dressed as women in their locker & restrooms. As a husband & father of 3 girls, would you really subject them to that situation?
— 🇺🇸 Sandy Beach 🇺🇸 (@Sandollar89) May 27, 2024
Woke assholes ! Will you do anything for a buck to team up with them !! Soooo disappointed in you @TheTimMcGraw
— MAF (@Mel9670) May 27, 2024
Tim McGraw picked a bad time to have his picture on planet fitness merchandise
— standnotfall (@Clayton31797310) May 14, 2024
I am at a loss for words. Planet Fitness is selling Tim McGraw merch to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs…. not just for any old operating expense…but a program to "spread kindness and acceptance" among today's youth. I am disappointed by both TM and BGC. My… pic.twitter.com/pgHNC50hZp
— gmdp1967 (@gmdp1967) May 14, 2024
Really? They let men into womens’ locker rooms.
— 🍀🍀 Katie Loring 🍀🍀 (@KatieLoring1) May 13, 2024
A number of people, across all forms of social media, also pointed out that Tim is known for traveling with his own gym setup (giant tractor tires included) so let’s not pretend like Tim is down at the local Planet Fitness ever day getting shredded…
Exhibit A:
