At least 28 Planet Fitness locations have been subject to bomb threats after the gym franchise sparked fury for banning a customer who shared a photo of a Transgender woman shaving in the bathroom.
From Florida to Alabama, dozens of locations in eleven different states reported false bomb threats following weeks of backlash against the chain’s ‘trans-inclusive’ locker room policy and decision to ban the member, it was reported Media issues.
Patricia Silva, 67, made headlines in March after claiming to have seen a “man with a penis” washing herself in front of a 12-year-old girl in the women’s locker room.
Silva was banned from the gym in Alaska, and the gym franchise refused to reverse its decision despite its valuation plummeting by $400 million five days after the incident.
No bombs were found at any of the facilities, but the threats forced dozens of businesses to evacuate their buildings and prompted FBI agents to launch an investigation.
At least 28 Planet Fitness locations have been the target of bomb threats after the gym franchise sparked fury for banning a customer who shared a photo of a transgender woman shaving in the bathroom. Pictured: A location targeted by bomb threats in Jackson, Mississippi
Patricia Silva was banned from Planet Fitness after sharing a photo of ‘a man with a penis’ who was using the women’s locker room to shave.
The first place hit by the series of incidents was Fairbanks, Alaska, where Silva often worked out and claimed to have seen “a man shaving in the women’s bathroom.”
Silva posted a video describing his gym experience on Facebook in early March, in addition to sharing a photo of the person online.
On March 13, Planet Fitness revoked Silva’s membership and filed a police report against him, citing his violation of gym policy by taking photographs and/or videos in the locker room.
An email sent on March 15 claims that bombs had been placed inside the Planet Fitness location at 1255 Airport Way and threatened to “blow up the building,” according to local media. ktvf.
The Fairbanks Police Department found no bombs inside the property and said the threat was “false.”
Since the X Libs TikTok account reposted Silva’s video and Planet Fitness’ statement, more locations across the country have reported being targeted by bomb threats.
Planet Fitness in Fairbanks, Alaska, promotes its “judgment-free zone” to its members, but canceled Silva’s membership after she complained about the incident.
Planet Fitness policy states that “discomfort is not a reason to deny access to the transgender member.”
At least four locations in Providence, Rhode Island, four in Mississippi, three in Connecticut, six in Michigan, have reported receiving bomb threats.
Similar incidents were also reported at three Planet Fitness locations in Alabama, three in Florida, one in Virginia, one in Maryland and one in Kansas.
Local police stations and the FBI have begun investigating the threats, and more social media users have joined the boycott against the gym franchise.
In the viral video, Silva said he had just finished working out at the Planet Fitness location in Fairbanks when he saw the person, whom he called ‘a man with a penis,’ performing his routine in front of a 12-year-old boy. girl.
Silva, who previously ran for the Fairbanks County Assembly, told the ‘trans woman’ that they should really wear the men’s locker room. The trans woman responded that they were ‘LGB’.
Silva then took a photo of the person, shared it online and recounted his experience in a Facebook video: ‘I just left Planet Fitness.
‘There’s a man shaving in the women’s bathroom. I love him in Christ. He is a spiritual being who has a human experience.
“He doesn’t like his gender, so he wants to be a woman, but I’m not comfortable with him shaving in my bathroom. I just thought I’d say it out loud.
Silva, who has shared QAnon conspiracy theories on social media, also described the encounter in a written online post.
‘I went to Planet Fitness… I walked into the bathroom and there was a MAN shaving… I looked at him, said ‘hey’… he looked up… and I said, ‘You’re a man shaving in the bathroom of women, and I don’t agree with that.’
‘He replied… ‘Well, I’m LGB…’
‘Whatever it is… however, I told him ‘You’re a MAN and you’re invading my space!’
‘I wanted to argue to justify why it can be there… I walked away…
“I walked out of the locker room and asked out loud to the front desk, ‘Are you aware that there is a MAN shaving in the women’s bathroom? I don’t agree with that.'” The two men standing at the desk bowed their heads. “Head down and with his tail between his legs! As I was walking out the door… behind me, a woman shouts ‘it’s a girl’… I shouted at her ‘it’s a man!’
“PF canceled my membership and allowed the fart to stay ” he stated.
His actions clashed with the gym’s commitment to “creating an inclusive and safe environment.”
Silva from Alaska can be seen in Facebook photos with her husband and daughter
The gym has defended its inclusive ‘judgment-free’ policy and has banned Silva from returning to the gym, canceling his membership.
The Planet Fitness statement shared by TikTok’s Libs followed the same line. They doubled down on their decision.
In its statement, the gym said staff should “work with members and employees to address this discomfort.” [sharing facilities with transgender members] and foster a climate of understanding consistent with the judgment-free nature of Planet Fitness.’
The statement continues: “Planet Fitness staff will endeavor to address transgender members with names, titles, pronouns and other terms consistent with their self-reported gender identity, if reasonably known to Planet Fitness staff.”
The statement said that “a transgender woman will be referred to by her preferred name and female pronouns.”
And “a transgender man will be referred to by his preferred name and male pronouns.”
It concluded that the gym “reserves the right to immediately terminate a person’s membership for any violation of this policy.”