There are many things wrong with the fitness industry: shameless supplement marketing, unhealthy discussions around body image, a double standard against women who are on the one hand told to get in shape but are simultaneously discouraged from strength training, and the list goes on. CrossFit in many ways has provided an alternative to this model. There are no mirrors in CrossFit gyms. We support function, not critiquing our body image. We celebrate PRs and write them on the board to remember how far we’ve come. We support healthy lifestyles, we support strong women, we support an inclusive community, and we believe that Black Lives Matter.

We all have our own personal story of beginning CrossFit. Maybe we thought CrossFit was the next hardcore thing we needed to try, maybe we were former athletes looking for a competitive outlet, maybe we were trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle or simply workout with some new friends. But once we saw the power of the workouts and the community, we knew it was something special. Those of you who have done CrossFit for a while may have even experienced the feeling of being a traveling CrossFitter. It’s remarkable to be able to travel almost anywhere in the world, drop into a box (even if you don’t speak the common language!), and a few minutes later to be smiling, high-fiving, and hanging out on the floor chatting with lovely people you’ve never met before. This is what the CrossFit community is about. Mutual hard work, connecting with others, and improving the health of our bodies and communities.

We are appalled by the recent comments by Greg Glassman. It has been reported that among other vicious comments, he said several times to other affiliate owners “I do not mourn the death of George Floyd.” This is one of the most inhumane statements imaginable, and totally unacceptable for someone in a position of power and influence. He has since issued an incredibly weak apology in which he admits the words were a mistake, but cannot bring himself to reflect on the inherent racism in his statements. There is no context in which this is acceptable. 

We are proud of the fitness community for speaking out against Glassman. This backlash has made clear that this community is about inclusivity and respect, and it will not tolerate racist remarks. We will always remain committed to providing the best possible fitness instruction, the most inclusive community, and we will try our best to do the right thing.

We do not know the future of the CrossFit brand, but we will NOT in any way support these statements.

That is why we have decided that we will not renew our CrossFit affiliation this year, helping to ensure that CrossFit understands the community takes these events and the CEO’s lack of accountability seriously. CrossFit Chapel Hill will move to rebrand and continue to build a community of health and positivity unaffiliated with CrossFit. To us, this has always been more about community and people and not about being a CrossFit affiliate. We are committed to being better and committed to anti-racism. Only under the circumstances of Greg Glassman’s resignation as CEO and a serious change of leadership and statements of intentions to improve would we consider rejoining CrossFit.

We look forward to working with many of the other leaders in the functional fitness community, in particular @chalk @ncfit @cfne @misfitathletics @spealprogramming and others that we look to for guidance, and we will continue to spread a positive message that captures what we are about. The functional fitness community is in good hands. The CrossFit community is not. @crossfit #blacklivesmatter