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Billy Eichner boycotts SoulCycle company over Trump fundraiser

by Marina Pitofsky - 08/08/19 8:58 AM ET

Actor and comedian Billy Eichner called out the gym giants Equinox and SoulCycle after the developer behind the chains faced backlash for hosting a top-dollar fundraiser for President Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign.

“Just contacted @Equinox to cancel my membership after many years,” Eichner tweeted on Wednesday. “Money talks, especially with these monsters. If it’s too inconvenient for u to trade one LUXURY GYM for another, then you should be ashamed. (No disrespect to the many wonderful employees at my local Equinox). Bye!”

Just contacted @Equinox to cancel my membership after many years. Money talks, especially with these monsters. If it’s too inconvenient for u to trade one LUXURY GYM for another, then you should be ashamed. (No disrespect to the many wonderful employees at my local Equinox). Bye!

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 7, 2019

Although Eichner said that “it’s probably impossible to completely avoid” business owners who support or donate to Trump, he criticized the company as “hypocritical and shameful” for “pandering to us.” The gym is popular among women and some gay communities in big cities across the country.

There are a handful of billionaires who own everything and many support Trump. Practically speaking, it’s probably impossible to completely avoid them. But considering @Equinox’s clientele and how they’ve pandered to us, this one feels particularly hypocritical and shameful.

— billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 7, 2019

{mosads} Customers of the gym chains took to Twitter to share their outrage that Stephen Ross, the founder and CEO of The Related Companies, which owns Equinox and SoulCycle, is hosting a fundraiser luncheon for the president in the Hamptons later this week.

I am a freak who loves @soulcycle. it genuinely makes me feel good and excited about my body and my health. that being said, the loser owner supports trump and I didn’t know that! so I will no longer take classes there. sharing bc I had no idea & maybe u didn’t either! fuck that.

— Mitra Jouhari (@tweetrajouhari) August 7, 2019

Equinox issued a statement Wednesday addressing concerns about the fundraiser, telling customers that no company profits are used to “fund politicians” and that Ross is a “passive investor” in the company who is “not involved in the management of either business.”

“Equinox and SoulCycle have nothing to do with the event and do not support it,” the company said.

“We believe in tolerance and equality, and will always stay true to those values,” in added.