OAKLAND (KTVU)-
A Bay Area woman says she was asked to cover up while working out at a gym, because, she says, staff was getting complaints of other gymgoers being intimidated by her body.
Tiffany Austin told KTVU she was recently in a car accident, and was looking forward to getting back in shape. Monday was her first day working out at Planet Fitness in Richmond.
The workout lasted only 15 minutes before Austin says she noticed people staring at her. And then an employee came over.
Austin says the staff member told her “excuse me we’ve had some complaints you’re intimidating people with your toned body. So can you put on a shirt?”
She was wearing a tank top that showed her stomach and capri pants. After being approached by another staff member, Austin left.
Planet Fitness boasts of their lack of “gymtimidation”; their mission statement says “Planet Fitness is known for a lot of things – our absurdly low prices, our Lunk™ Alarm, and most of all perhaps, for our Judgement Free Zone® philosophy, which means members can relax, get in shape, and have fun without being subjected to the hard-core, look-at-me attitude that exists in too many gyms.”
Click here to read Planet Fitness’ response to KTVU.