Gym tells woman to cover up her toned body
A California woman says she was asked to cover up while working out at a Planet Fitness because she was “intimidating people with her toned body.”
Tiffany Austin, who resides in the Bay area, said she was excited to get back in shape after a recent car accident left her unable to work out.
After her doctor told her it was time to start walking more, she took a tour of the Planet Fitness Gym in Richmond. On Monday she officially joined the gym and was looking forward to her first workout – but that workout lasted a quick 15 minutes.
Austin said things started out well. She hopped on a treadmill, set the speed to slow, put her earbuds in and started walking. She started to notice others staring at her, and quickly grew self-conscious but she kept on walking. That is until a staff-member stopped her.
According to Austin that staff member said, “excuse me we’ve had some complaints you’re intimidating people with your toned body. So can you put on a shirt?”
Austin was wearing a tank top that showed her stomach and capri pants. She agreed to wear the shirt, but while a staff member went to get it, she says she was approached by another staff member who also took issue with her body.
At that point she asked for her money back and left.
Planet Fitness has a policy that bans what they refer to as “gymtimidation.” The gym’s website says members can get in shape without being, “subjected to the hardcore look-at-me-attitude that exists in too many gyms.”
Thoughts on the policy?
Can the incident be viewed as discrimination?
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