'Fox & Friends' mocks SoulCycle boycott over owner's Trump ties: 'Maybe a bunch of Deplorables will descend'
The co-hosts of Fox & Friends weighed in on calls for a boycott of Equinox gyms and the trendy spin classes offered by SoulCycle after it was revealed that the billionaire real estate developer and owner of the fitness brands, Stephen Ross, plans to hold a fundraiser for President Trump.
“Maybe SoulCycle will get a whole new demographic of customers!” joked guest co-host Pete Hegseth. “Maybe a bunch of ‘Deplorables’ will descend on SoulCycle,” he added, referencing a term former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton used to describe Trump supporters.
Celebrities like model Chrissy Teigen and actor/comedian Billy Eichner were among those who called for a boycott on Twitter:
everyone who cancels their equinox and soul cycle memberships, meet me at the library. bring weights
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) August 7, 2019
Hey @Equinox - what’s your policy for canceling memberships once a member finds out your owner is enabling racism and mass murder?
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 7, 2019
Stephen Ross defended his planned fundraiser in a statement to Fox & Friends:
“I have always been an active participant in the democratic process. While some prefer to sit outside of the process and criticize, I prefer to engage directly and support the things I deeply care about. 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 bashful about expressing my opinions. I started my business with nothing and a reason for my engagement with our leaders is my deep concern for creating jobs and growing our country’s economy. I have been, and will continue to be, an outspoken champion of racial equality, inclusion, diversity, public education and environmental sustainability, and I have and will continue to support leaders on both sides of the aisle to address these challenges.”
Both Equinox and SoulCycle attempted to distance themselves from their owner in tweets:
A note from our CEO pic.twitter.com/UwxBWR76B0
— SoulCycle (@soulcycle) August 7, 2019
— Equinox (@Equinox) August 7, 2019
Viewers on Twitter were split, with many speaking out in support of Eichner, Teigen and others who have called for a boycott:
@Equinox I've been a member for 5 years and I will be taking my money elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/kdWR20jS6U
— Jenna Cafiero (@JennaDGC) August 7, 2019
@Equinox Have been a member for over 20 years. You market yourself as a progressive bastion of health and well-being. How does that jive with being a vehicle for hate and racism? Imagine if the Cancer Society was owned by Big Tobacco. #Shame #equinoxboycott
— Lisa M (@ColumbusNYC) August 8, 2019
Others felt Ross and the Fox & Friends team were right to dismiss the protests:
To Stephen Ross...remember what happened with Chick-Fil-A? They grew bigger and better after the boycott soooo hang in! #Equinox #SoulCycle
— A Pepitone (@apepi710) August 8, 2019
I'm wondering if the far left liberals are going to boycott & quit watching @CNN as it continues to broadcast in their brand new studios in Hudson Yards, since the building is owned by Soulcycle & Equinox owner Stephen Ross, a proud @realDonaldTrump donor.
— RoadMN (@RoadMN) August 8, 2019
Watch as Fox & Friends co-host defends Trump's use of the word 'invasion' for border crossings:
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
