Conservative social media users are calling for a boycott of Planet Fitness after reports of a 2023 incident involving a man allegedly exposing himself to a 15-year-old while in a women’s locker room.
Context
In September 2023, a 15-year-old girl was in the women’s locker room at Planet Fitness in Monroe, Georgia, when she said a naked biological male exposed himself to her, according to the California Police Department. Monroe. Jakorbie Dixon, 25, of Conyers, was arrested in connection with the incident on “multiple arrest warrants for public indecency by exposing himself in the women’s locker room,” the department said in a statement.
Shortly after Dixon’s arrest, the teen’s family filed a lawsuit against Planet Fitness over the incident, Bart Benton, the attorney representing the teen’s family, announced in a statement on July 15. september. Benton claims the fitness chain was aware of Dixon’s alleged lewd behavior. before exposing himself to the teenager.
“We are committed to holding Planet Fitness accountable for its actions,” Benton said in the release. “Our initial investigation revealed that Planet Fitness knew about and was aware of this type of behavior from the perpetrator, but chose to ignore his prior conduct of exposing himself to women in the locker room. women because he “identified” as a woman. This behavior is completely unacceptable, and we will fight for justice for our client and ensure Planet Fitness takes action to prevent this from happening again .
The gym chain had already been facing criticism for several days following a separate incident involving a man in a women’s locker room in the presence of a child.
Planet Fitness is facing scrutiny after initially facing a decision last week to cancel the membership of an Alaska customer who reported a “man in the locker room of a woman shaving” while a 12-year-old girl was present. A Planet Fitness spokesperson told local media that the customer took a photo of a person inside a locker room, which violates the company’s mobile device policy and goes to going against the gym’s “no judgment” rules.
News week On Sunday, I contacted the Monroe Police Department, Benton and Planet Fitness by email for comment.
What we know
On Sunday, the right-wing social media account Libs of Tic Tac posted on X, formerly Twitterabout the 2023 incident at Monroe Planet Fitness, sparking a new wave of outrage and criticism over the company’s locker room and gender identity policies.
Planet Fitness, on its website, says it champions diversity and provides an environment “where everyone feels accepted, respected and like they belong.”
The website lists the fitness company’s non-discrimination policy regarding gender identity and locker room accommodations, which states in part: “Members and team members will be treated according to their declared gender identity. » The policy also addresses locker room use and states that gym staff and members “may use Planet Fitness locker rooms and programs based on their self-reported gender identity; these facilities include bathrooms, showers, and all other gender-segregated facilities.”
The policy states that if “a serious concern or significant doubt” regarding a person’s transgender or non-binary identity arises, Planet Fitness employees are encouraged to raise their concerns with the club member. If this fails to resolve issues, staff may request “external proof of the member’s affirmed gender identity.” If a gym member “inappropriately asserts their gender identity,” they may be asked to leave and their membership may be revoked, per the fitness chain’s policy.
Don EMMERT / AFP/Getty
Views
The topic “boycott Planet Fitness” trended on X for hours on Sunday, with many social media users calling for a boycott of the gym chain.
Libs from TikTok’s Planet Fitness criticized Planet Fitness on women’s locker room. He would have done it before. They didn’t do anything because he identified as a woman. #BoycottPlanetFitness.”
The post garnered more than 8,700 likes and nearly 400 comments as of Sunday.
In another post, the controversial X account posted: “They allow men into women’s locker rooms and will terminate your membership if you complain about it!”
Owner Elon Musk responded to the Libs of TikTok thread, writing, “This doesn’t seem safe for women.”
TammyLeeBlosser posted on X: “People who care about women’s safety and rights should cancel their membership! Wake up, go bankrupt.”
Despite growing calls for a boycott, some conservative social media users defended Planet Fitness.
Buck Lawson wrote on X: “I’m a conservative and I use Planet Fitness. While I don’t defend their corporate policies, I do defend my local franchise. Men were literally removed from women’s spaces and, in extreme cases, the police were called. . The toilets are clearly marked for men and women.
Uncommon knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
