CrossFit CEO’s tweet on Floyd led Reebok, others to cut ties. Now he’s stepping down
Companies have cut ties with CrossFit and its CEO resigned after he posted a controversial tweet about George Floyd’s death on Saturday.
In response to a tweet saying racism is a public health issue, CEO Greg Glassman tweeted: “It’s FLOYD-19.”
Glassman resigned from his position Tuesday after his tweet gained national attantion.
“I’m stepping down as CEO of CrossFit, Inc., and I have decided to retire,” Glassman said in a statement. “On Saturday I created a rift in the CrossFit community and unintentionally hurt many of its members.”
Reebok already had moved to end its 10-year partnership with CrossFit, Forbes reported.
“Our partnership with CrossFit HQ comes to an end later this year. Recently, we have been in discussions regarding a new agreement, however, in light of recent events, we have made the decision to end our partnership with CrossFit HQ. We will fulfill our remaining contractual obligations in 2020,” Reebok said in a statement, according to Forbes.
Affiliates including CrossFit Magnus, Petworth Fitness, Rogue and NoBull also severed ties with the company, RTT News reported.
Glassman had apologized for his tweet through CrossFit’s Twitter account.
“I, CrossFit HQ, and the CrossFit community will not stand for racism. I made a mistake by 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,” the post read.
CrossFit Games champion Tia-Clair Toomey said in an Instagram video that she was “incredibly saddened, disappointed and frustrated” at CrossFit. “My future with Crossfit is unclear and depends on the direction of headquarters,” she said.
NOBULL, an athleticwear company, condemned Glassman’s comments on Instagram.
“NOBULL as an organization is disturbed, outraged, and embarrassed by CrossFit HQ’s response to racism and the civil rights movement happening in America,” the statement read. “Their silence and insensitivity are deplorable. As a brand born out of the broader CrossFit community, we refuse to sit idly by and allow for any association of our brand with their recent statements or viewpoints.”
National protests that entered their second week on Monday after Floyd, an unarmed black man, died in Minneapolis police custody.
On Sunday, a Minneapolis veto-proof city council vowed to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department and create a “community-led safety” model, The Guardian reported.
Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was shown on video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than 8 minutes, including nearly 3 minutes after he became unresponsive. Chauvin was arrested on May 29, according to the Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner.
Chauvin’s charges were changed to second-degree murder, McClatchy News reported. Chauvin was previously charged with third-degree murder. The other three Minneapolis officers on the scene of Floyd’s death have also been charged, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Wednesday.
This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 9:14 AM with the headline "CrossFit CEO’s tweet on Floyd led Reebok, others to cut ties. Now he’s stepping down."