A gym-goer was left outraged after he was kicked out of his $350-a-month New York City gym for wearing an “offensive” t-shirt with an image of Donald Trump.
The 27-year-old tech startup founder was in the middle of his workout at an Equinox gym when he was told he had to cover up or leave.
His T-shirt featured Trump’s infamous mugshot accompanied by the words, “Never give up.”
The 27-year-old was working out at an Equinox gym before he was told to leave for wearing a Trump t-shirt.
His T-shirt featured Trump’s infamous mugshot accompanied by the words, “Never give up.”
“(The general manager) told me that Equinox is a ‘safe space’ and that my shirt was offensive,” Jared told the New York Postwithout providing his last name.
He filmed his interaction with the gym manager questioning the policy.
The shirt featured former President Donald Trump’s infamous mug shot over the words “Never Surrender.”
In the video, the manager said she gave Jared her business card and would email him with written confirmation of the situation.
‘They’re kicking me out, can you believe it? “They’re kicking me out because I’m wearing Trump,” he tells another gym-goer entering the building.
The manager, Queen Ogunyinka, then said: “I’m just asking you to cover it like anyone who comes here in a Kamala Harris shirt.”
Jared, who is Jewish, told DailyMail.com that he had previously worn T-shirts to the gym with pro-Israel messages without encountering any problems.
“But only three days after the elections they expelled me for wearing the candidate on my shirt,” he explained.
‘American democracy is about freedom of speech and debate. Tim and once again, the left does everything in its power to silence ideas. “I refuse to be bullied,” he told the Post.
Equinox later issued a statement saying it had apologized to Jared because the manager “wrongly” told him he couldn’t wear the shirt.
The venue’s manager, Queen Ogunyinka, told Jared he needed to cover up “like anyone who walks in here wearing a Kamala Harris t-shirt.”
The UC-Berkley alumnus said he was no stranger to “leftist elitism” and has “lost friends” or been “belittled” for speaking his mind.
“When they have no arguments left, they try to demonize you,” he told the Post.
Jared admitted that he didn’t always support Trump and didn’t vote for him in 2016, but now he feels obligated to do so.
“The anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism of the left led me to support him today,” he said. “As a Jew, I must support the pro-Israel candidate Donald Trump.”
An Equinox spokesperson told the Post that Jared’s shirt was not against gym policies.
‘An Equinox associate mistakenly asked a member to cover an item of clothing. “The shirt did not violate our dress code and we have apologized directly to the member,” the spokesperson said.
Jared confirmed that he had been contacted and apologized, but said he will probably look for a new gym.
Jared, who is Jewish, said he didn’t always support Trump, but now felt compelled to do so because of the former president’s “pro-Israel” stance.
He received a lot of support online when his video was widely circulated.
“There’s nothing like standing up for what you believe in, even if it means taking a stand at the gym,” one commenter wrote.
Another added: “Politics shouldn’t dictate your outfit, but here we are, with Equinox acting as the fashion police.”
The gym has already been in trouble for political alignment after the president and founder of Related Companies, the parent company of Equinox and SoulCycle, hosted an expensive fundraiser for Trump.
Stephen Ross canceled the fundraiser in 2019, charging $100,000 for a photo with the former president and $250,000 for a seat with a private panel discussion. The lowest entry price was $5,600.
Stephen Ross came under fire in 2019 for an expensive fundraiser for Trump. Ross is the president and founder of related companies, the parent company of Equinox and SoulCycle.
The fundraiser sparked outrage, particularly among Equinox members, and a Cambio.org the campaign was launched.
The campaign said: ‘We joined this gym because we believed it shared our values. We believed it was a safe space for people like us. We believed we were supporting a company that was inclusive, that embraced and celebrated our diversity and supported our physical and mental health as a community.’
The petition, created by activist and actor Wilson Cruz, hoped to end the fundraising and garnered more than 14,000 signatures.
Ross said he has always been an “active participant in the democratic process,” the Post reported.
“I have known Donald Trump for 40 years, and while we agree on some issues, we strongly disagree on many others, and I have never been shy about expressing my opinions,” he added.
Jared said ‘anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism on the left led me to support (Donald Trump)’
Both Equinox and SoulCycle also issued a statement saying they did not support the event.
“We are committed to all of our members and the communities in which we live. We believe in tolerance and equality and will always be true to those values,” the statement read.
Per Equinox member policy, the gym’may deny you use of its Clubs if you do not wear appropriate clothing and footwear, as determined by Equinox in its sole discretion.’
The policies, according to the company, are in place to create a “welcoming and inclusive community.”