Woke gym charged white people double to achieve 'true inclusion'

A Canadian gym that claims the fitness industry is dominated by white people has removed a pricing structure that was based on race.

R Studios released a statement in response to online backlash after reports circulated that showed the company offering classes for "BIPOC ... Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour" at half its typical rate. Its usual rate was $30, but the "BIPOC" rate was $15.

'Our mission has always been to create spaces that feel safe.'

As reported by the Daily Mail, not only did the Halifax, Nova Scotia, studio offer a special "BIPOC drop in rate," but a screenshot of an alleged chat with the company revealed users could get a "reduced" membership cost simply for being "a black person."

"Yes, we offer a BIPOC membership option," the company allegedly responded, according to the image.

In response, the fitness studio posted a series of statements to its Instagram account, seemingly admitting to the pricing program.

"Our mission has always been to create spaces that feel safe, inclusive, and welcoming for all people," the post began.

The statement then immediately positioned the company as implementing diversity programs as a method to fight bigotry. Not only did R Studios claim that the fitness industry has "long been predominantly white and often inaccessible," the company seemed to state it has engaged in race-based hiring practices as well.

"We have taken pride in being leaders who actively promote diversity through our hiring practices, in-studio equity and inclusion training, and the creation of our IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility) Committee."

Further cementing that customers are to "feel seen" at the business, R Studios then addressed "feedback and criticism" surrounding its efforts to create a "discounted membership" created by its "BIPOC team and IDEA Committee to help foster diversity and inclusion."

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City of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2023. Photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images

The post continued, claiming that while R Studios' "initiative was built from a place of compassion and community," the company said it understood that some have interpreted the pricing tiers to be "exclusive."

The company then justified the decision by saying part of its work means recognizing "true inclusion," which involves creating "intentional space for those who have been historically marginalized or excluded."

R Studios further announced that it would be removing all discounted memberships and replacing them with an allegedly "even more inclusive" program to provide memberships for those who face "financial or systemic barriers" but "regardless of background."

On the final page of the post, the company said it remains committed to DEI.

This commitment is still displayed proudly on the R Studios website, where it boasts a land acknowledgement.

"The Rstudios community is currently working to be more inclusive," the statement reads. The company also declares in the acknowledgement "that we are in Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People."

It adds, "This territory is covered by the 'Treaties of Peace and Friendship' signed in 1725."

The Mi'kmaq have been noted as being scalpers for pay who tortured prisoners of war from other tribes, which was of course common at the time.

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Local political candidate from the People's Party of Canada Jeff Evely commented that he felt the fitness studio was in violation of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act.

"R studios in Nova Scotia charges double for white people, in violation of Sections 5(1) of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act," Evely wrote on X.

Notably, the studio's owner, Connie McInnes, was celebrated by national Canadian bank TD Canada in 2019 for her efforts to create "safe spaces for women."

R Studios did not respond to Blaze News' request for comment regarding race-based pricing and hiring practices.

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