Celebrities including Chrissy Teigen and Billy Eichner are calling for people to ditch Equinox and SoulCycle due to chairman's plans to host a Trump fundraiser
- Model Chrissy Teigen and comedian Billy Eichner joined the wave of online backlash against Equinox and SoulCycle.
- Equinox and SoulCycle are facing boycott threats following a report that the chairman behind the brands, Stephen Ross, is planning to host a fundraiser for Trump's reelection.
- "Just contacted @Equinox to cancel my membership after many years," Eichner tweeted. "Money talks, especially with these monsters."
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Celebrities with massive social media followings are joining in the wave of backlash against Equinox and SoulCycle.
The trendy fitness brands faced online boycott threats after the Washington Post reported that Stephen Ross, a real-estate developer and investor, is planning to host a fundraiser for Trump's reelection, with tickets costing $100,000. Ross is the founder and chairman of Related Cos., which owns both Equinox and SoulCycle.
The movement to boycott the trendy fitness brands swelled online on Wednesday.
"This Friday the Soul Cycle and Equinox Fitness chairman is throwing a fundraising lunch for Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign," #GrabYourWallet founder Shannon Coulter tweeted.
"Tickets are $100,000 each. Adding to the list," she added, referring to #GrabYourWallet's influential list of brands for anti-Trump individuals to boycott.
A Change.org petition calling for Equinox to put an end to the fundraiser had more than 700 signatures just a few hours after it was launched. Others took to social media to threaten to boycott the brand.
"the gym is my personal hell but if you're a member of Equinox perhaps it is time to say peace(out)-inox ayyyyy I'm still sick yes but f--- equinox," tweeted model and writer Chrissy Teigen, who has more than 11 million followers on Twitter.
Teigen added: "oh and f--- soulcycle but I thought that way before this anyhow."
Comedian Billy Eichner tweeted that he was quitting Equinox after many years of being a member due to the fundraiser.
"Money talks, especially with these monsters," Eichner tweeted. "If it's too inconvenient for u to trade one LUXURY GYM for another, then you should be ashamed. (No disrespect to the many wonderful employees at my local Equinox). Bye!"
Eicher has more than two million followers on Twitter.
"There are a handful of billionaires who own everything and many support Trump. Practically speaking, it's probably impossible to completely avoid them. But considering @Equinox's clientele and how they've pandered to us, this one feels particularly hypocritical and shameful," Eichner said in a follow-up tweet, referring to Equinox's marketing to LGBTQ gym-goers.
Eichner and Teigen were just a few of the people tweeting anti-Equinox and SoulCylce sentiments today.
SoulCycle and Equinox released similar statements on Wednesday afternoon, calling Ross a "passive investor" and saying the brands are unconnected with the fundraiser.
"We want to let you know that Equinox and SoulCycle have nothing to do with the event and do not support it," Equinox tweeted. "As is consistent with our policies, no company profits are used to fund politicians."
In addition to Equinox and SoulCycle, Ross' Related Cos. has made major investments in the dessert chain Milk Bar, the celebrity chef David Chang's Momofuku restaurant empire, the fast-casual chain &pizza, and the gym brand Blink Fitness.