Woman Said Gym Shamed Her When She Tried to Cancel Membership: 'Try First'

A woman claiming Anytime Fitness refused to cancel her membership until she took at least three private training sessions went viral, leaving thousands of viewers angry about the employee "fat-shaming" her.

Lexie Rowe, or @lexiemarierowe, posted about her experience on TikTok where it received nearly 500,000 views and 1,100 comments.

The Truth About Fat Shaming

The International Journal of Obesity reports that more than 40 percent of American adults across all body sizes have experienced weight stigma in their lifetime.

Research shows that fat shaming, or the criticization and stigmatization of an individual's weight, often leads to serious health concerns including increased risk for obesity, depression, suicidal ideation, and disordered eating.

Unlike other stigmas, individuals often feel that a person's weight is in their control, leading many perpetrators to believe that the victim is at fault. These perpetrators often consist of romantic partners and family members, according to the American Psychological Association.

'Is That Legal?'

"Listen, I'm pretty sure Anytime Fitness just fat-shamed me," Rowe said while sitting in her car.

She explained that she purchased the membership two years ago but never went, opting instead for a day pass at the YMCA with friends.

"Keep in mind I was like 40 pounds lighter, which shouldn't matter either way," Rowe said. "I was bigger but not that big."

She decided that she wanted to cancel her membership, which Rowe said she told the woman in the gym's office.

Rowe claimed the woman replied that she wouldn't cancel the membership until she attended three sessions with a trainer.

"I would really like to see you try first," the employee said, according to Rowe.

She said she told the employee she wasn't interested, but the employee replied that she wouldn't cancel the membership until she got the three sessions completed.

"She was like, 'They'll be free to you. I'll set you up with somebody, but you just really need to try first,'" Rowe said was the employee's response.

"Is that legal? Is that in their policy? Can they ask me to do that?" Rowe asked at the end of the video.

Gym Protocol

As the Anytime Fitness website states, cancellation policies differ between states, with each gym being independently owned and operated.

Anytime Fitness recommends individuals who desire to cancel their membership review the specific policy outlined on their agreement and contact their home club directly for concerns.

Anytime Fitness Response

Rowe told Newsweek that Anytime Fitness reached out to her via TikTok comments on Monday after turning off the comments on their page.

According to Rowe, Anytime Fitness commented that they are addressing the complaint immediately and will "reply very soon."

A spokesperson with Anytime Fitness reached out to Rowe again on Tuesday, stating that they are taking the situation seriously.

"One of the offers we do extend to returning members is the set of three free training sessions," the comment read. "However, no one should be forced to take the training sessions when attempting to cancel their membership—that is absolutely not our policy, nor a practice we endorse.

"Since the pandemic, there has been a total turnover of staff at that particular location. As you have not been a member since 2019, all we can do is apologize–we are sincerely sorry that this was your experience."

Viewer Reactions

Nearly 1,100 users commented on the video, many criticizing Anytime Fitness for handling the situation in an "unacceptable" manner.

"Absolutely not!! I'd call up there and ask to speak with a manager and explain all this...smh mind blown. I wouldn't have known what to say either...ughh."

"Shaming aside, which is SO wrong—they can't deny you cancelation regardless if it's not in their contract..."

"The way I would have made a SCENE. That's unacceptable."

"The way I'd be contacting a lawyer so fast."

Others said that similar incidents happened to them when they tried to cancel their memberships.

"They did this to me. They were like 'Are you at your goal weight?' I said no. They said, 'then don't cancel' well I'm not coming so I'm canceling."

"This happened to me when I was 16. My mom had to come in and argue until they canceled it. The only time I support bullying customer service."

Newsweek reached out to Anytime Fitness and Lexie Rowe.

Fat-Shaming in the News

In another viral TikTok, a woman recently said she was "fat-shamed" at the gym for wearing a sports bra.

Another woman recently claimed she was charged double for "eating too much" at an all-you-can-eat buffet, and another anonymous user on Mumsnet said a cashier told her to lose weight.

Updated 07/19/2022, 5:34 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comments from an Anytime Fitness spokesperson.