Greg Glassman’s comment relating to George Floyd has cost his company, CrossFit, its partnership deal with Reebok and Rogue Fitness. Learn about what Greg Glassman said and why people had been outraged.
Greg Glassman had founded CrossFit as a branded fitness regimen and he registered the company in 2000 with Lauren Jenai.
On Saturday, 6th June 2020, Glassman commented “Floyd-19” under a Twitter post from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). The post in question is a statement from the Institute’s director on how racism is a public health issue; and how with research, it can assist in shedding more light on the issue. See it below:
Racism and discrimination are critical public health issues that demand an urgent response, wherever they occur. #BlackLivesMatter
Read our director’s statement: https://t.co/kZkP2s82oV pic.twitter.com/n6qbWy1afO
— Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (@IHME_UW) June 4, 2020
Greg Glassman’s comment rubbed people the wrong way. With the outrage over George Floyd’s killing, it was not long before people started to criticise the CEO’s comment. He eventually dropped a follow-up comment to explain that he was only talking about how IHME’s failed quarantine model during the pandemic led to more riots.
Also read:
– Justice For George Floyd Delays The Start of Fortnite’s Next Season
– Top Tech Trends Of The Week: The Tech World Stands By Black Lives Matter Movement
– What Does COVID-19 Mean For People Living With Asthma?
But it was too late. Reebok, a major sponsor of CrossFit Games, announced that it will stop sponsoring the event after 2020 when their current deal ends. Reebok’s statement to Footwear News reads:
“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. We owe this to the CrossFit Games competitors, fans and the community.”
Reebok is not alone, as Rogue Fitness, a manufacturer in strength and conditioning equipment denounced CrossFit as well.
It seems Greg Glassman has since removed his ‘Floyd-19’ comment, but the partnership with Reebok and Rogue Fitness will likely cost the company. The CEO also apologized for the racist comment saying:
“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.”
He added that he had been overly emotional about IHME’s boldness at proposing a model after their lockdown advice had cost the country a lot. However, people have argued that while many people are outraged over IHME’s lockdown error; Glassman had no excuse to use Floyd’s name is such a dishonourable manner.
For your daily dose of tech, lifestyle and trending content, make sure to follow Plat4om on Twitter @Plat4omLive, on Instagram @Plat4om, on LinkedIn at Plat4om, and on Facebook at Plat4om. You can also email us at info@plat4om.com. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE.
