The UK’s largest gym chain apologized “unreservedly” Monday after one of its branches promoted a “slavery” inspired workout during Britain’s Black History Month.
The offensive post on PureGym’s social media said “slavery was hard and so is this,” referring to a workout designed to “celebrate” Black History Month, according to screen grabs of the post shared on social media.
The workout, dubbed “12 Years of Slave” after the Oscar-winning film about U.S. slavery, included 12 different exercise moves such as burpees, squats and push-ups.
PureGym, the country’s top gym operator based on membership, issued its Monday mea culpa within hours of the original post.
“PureGym apologizes unreservedly for a post regarding Black History Month that was made today by our gym in Luton & Dunstable. This post was wholly unacceptable, was not approved or endorsed by the company and was removed when it was brought to our attention,” the chain said.
“We take these matters extremely seriously and are urgently investigating how and why this post was made,” the company said.
“An absolutely outrageous post from one of the Pure Gym branches today,” Facebook user Maia Thomas said in a comment alongside a screenshot of the post.
“It is hard to actually come to terms with the fact this was thought of and posted. I am struggling to find words to express my feelings regarding this,” Thomas said.
“The fact someone could let alone think of this as an idea to market a workout it beyond me, yet alone post it,” Thomas wrote.