June 10, 2020: The fitness brand CrossFit was one of the few which saw greater growth in recent years as people started focusing on fitness and the CEO Greg Glassman had a major role to play in this journey. The company has more than 15,000 affiliated gyms across 150 countries.
Greg is stepping down from the CEO position after the controversial comment about the current protest on George Floyd’s death and also on Coronavirus. This started with a tweet from Glassman on Saturday where he replied to a research institute that stated “Racism is a Public Health Issue”. Glassman responded to the tweet saying it as “its FLOYD-19”. The tweet on twitter made many of the brands react immediately the sports apparel partner Rebok spoke to the media and said they are going to withdraw the contract of working with CrossFit. There was more gym and fitness organization who are in partnership with CrossFit said they would think of ending the contract.
Glassman made a statement in the zoom call which he had with his team “I was asked by the Italians, ‘What would you do, coach?’ And I said: ‘I would agree to any restrictions put on me by the health authorities, and I would open my gym, and then 10 minutes later I would do whatever the fuck I wanted. That’s what I would do.”
“We’re not mourning for George Floyd – I don’t think I or any of my staff are.”
CrossFit did publish a newsletter apologizing for the current move from the CEO and they expressed their support to eradicate racism and they are ready to do any changes required to achieve it. Glassman made an apology statement on June 8th, 2020 “I, CrossFit HQ, and the CrossFit community will not stand for racism. I made a mistake with the words I chose yesterday. My heart is deeply saddened by the pain it has caused. It was a mistake, not racist but a mistake.”
Greg Glassman will be replaced by Dave Castro effective immediately.
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