Rob Schneider's Planet Fitness Message Goes Viral

Rob Schneider has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Planet Fitness, which has faced boycotts because of how it handles transgender issues.

On March 17, the right-wing social media account Libs of TikTok posted on X, formerly Twitter, about a 2023 incident involving a man who allegedly exposed himself to a 15-year-old in a women's locker room at Planet Fitness in Monroe, Georgia.

Following the post, the gym chain's value dropped from $5.3 billion on March 14 to $4.9 billion on March 19. While not necessarily being directly linked to the social media post, the $400 million fall has also been linked to a refusal to reverse the cancelation of an Alaskan customer's membership for sharing a photo of a 'trans woman' using a female locker room.

The Planet Fitness website lists the 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 self-reported gender identity."

Schneider on Wednesday reshared a Libs of TikTok post, saying that "creepy dudes" could take advantage of the popular gym's policy.

"BREAKING: I just received this image from Planet Fitness in Alaska. The man who was caught shaving in the womens' bathroom is still entering womens' private spaces," the Libs of TikTok post reads.

"Planet Fitness stood by him. Their policies allow men to use womens' locker rooms and if you complain you might have your membership revoked. Planet Fitness is not safe for women!!"

Schneider added: "Hmmm, Seems like Creepy dudes could take advantage of this @PlanetFitness policy. Maybe instead Pizza Monday, they can have 'penis in women's locker room Tuesdays'?"

At the time of writing, his post had been viewed 218,800 times.

Newsweek emailed Schneider and Planet Fitness for comment Friday.

Following the incident in which a "biological male" allegedly exposed himself to the 15-year-old at Planet Fitness in Monroe, Georgia, Jakorbie Dixon, 25, of Conyers was arrested. He faced "multiple warrants for public indecency by exposing himself in the female locker room," the local police department stated.

The teenager's family sued Planet Fitness and their attorney, Bart Benton, claimed that the fitness chain knew about Dixon's alleged inappropriate behavior before he exposed himself to Dixon.

Planet Fitness had already been facing criticism over a separate incident involving a man inside a women's locker room in the presence of a child.

More criticism was leveled at the company last week after it stood by its choice to terminate the membership of the Alaskan customer who reported seeing a "man in women's locker room shaving" while in the presence of a 12-year-old girl.

A Planet Fitness representative informed the local press that the patron had taken a picture of someone inside a locker room, which is against the gym's "judgment-free" guidelines and the company's mobile device policy.

The gym's policy notes that if "a serious concern or significant doubt" about a person's transgender or nonbinary identity arises, Planet Fitness employees are encouraged to address their concerns with the club member. If that fails to resolve the concerns, staff may request "external evidence of the member's asserted gender identity." If a gym member "improperly asserts a gender identity," they may be asked to leave and their membership may be revoked, according to the fitness chain's policy.

The current outcry highlights a growing divide in the country regarding transgender rights, with bills targeting the rights of transgender people being embraced by Republican governors and statehouses across the country.

In 2023 the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued a "state of emergency" in response to a record number of bills introduced across state legislatures. The 2023 legislative session included more than 525 bills introduced, of which 220 of them targeted transgender people.

On Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2023, President Joe Biden shared his support for transgender people. He said in a statement: "I want every member of the trans community to know that we see you. You're each made in the image of God, and deserve love, dignity, and respect. You make America stronger, and we're with you."