We Cannot Stand for Status Quo

Our Decision to Disaffiliate from CrossFit®

Last Tuesday (June 2, 2020), we very briefly explained that we would be disaffiliated from CrossFit. We want you to understand how to came to this decision.

CrossFit is a GLOBAL brand, with affiliates all over the world. With recent events that have transpired and CrossFit's lack of response, we view this as a disservice to the countless BIPOC athletes who have supported CrossFit through their affiliates. As we are likely part of the small percentage of BIPOC who own a CrossFit Affiliate, it is even more imperative that put action to our words. We will be taking what would have been our affiliate fee and donating $3,000 between the NAACP and True North Aid.

This is the short reason but what most people are unaware of is what were the steps and thoughts that went into our decision making process. If you care to know, please continue reading.

We want to mention that we built our branding in 2015/2016 we were already floating the idea of not affiliating with CrossFit. The in the summer of 2016, CrossFit decided to give out glocks as prizes for the CrossFit Games during a time of historical mass shootings in the USA. This was something we were not happy to be associated with. However, being a new business, we continued down the path of affiliation. Every year since, we have had thoughts of disaffiliating.

Last year, we toyed with the idea of disaffiliating because CrossFit was not been very transparent with affiliate owners regarding decisions on disbanding their media team, removing their social media account (which since have been reinstated). Those decisions could have lasting impacts on all affiliate owners since the brand does have power to bring awareness (through SEO and other digital means) to the methodology that we have come to (and still do) love. Weighing our options out, we made a decision to renew.

Fast forward to recent events, while taking account the history of our view on CrossFit, we could no longer justify supporting the leader given where our moral compass lies. We do not condone or accept his views on COVID19, his sense of "humour", they way he treats individuals who have been loyal supporters of CrossFit, or his views on whether or not there is a systemic racism issue. This made our decision easy. However, it should be noted that although the decision to disaffiliate was easy, it has not been taken lightly.

So much good truly has come from CrossFit. CrossFit is more than just Greg Glassman. CrossFit is an INTERNATIONAL community of really great people. We met some of our closest friends through CrossFit and CrossFit truly has changed our lives. Despite all this, despite our love for CrossFit, we simply could not continue supporting a brand with a leader that our morals and values do not align with.

The MAJORITY of CrossFit affiliates are branded with the word CrossFit. Disaffiliating means they will have to change signage, websites, apparel, and everything else in between in order to re-brand themselves. Given the state of the world and the economic climate, this decision cannot be made hastily. We truly believe affiliate owners open their businesses to help people before themselves and that's why so many gyms barely survive or have partners working other jobs. If they can't survive this COVID storm, that's 1 less gym that can helps hundreds of people. We can all stand to give these gyms a bit of time to digest and make a rational decision. We've seen some comments online shaming for gyms and calling them out to disaffiliate. Instead of leading with anger, let's have the conversation. Give our opinions and listen to theirs. CrossFit Gyms does not equate to having racist owners.

In regards to the diversity issue...this 100% exists and yes CrossFit is seen as an "upperclass" sport. As boutique gym owners, our intentions are to help everyone, although it is true that finding ways of helping people beyond those who can afford a membership is admittedly low on the totem pole. This is not because we don't want to help, it is because some gym owners are barely scraping by, as mentioned above. But this doesn't mean we can't stand for change. We are newly "woke" to how serious these issues really are and we are dedicated to change this from a grassroots level - this is something we are committed to plan for. We know, our $3,000 is a drop in the bucket, comparatively speaking, but we use this as our voice to inspire others to think deeper as to why we do this as trainers.

We love helping our community, but we also know there are others that need us more. This is just the beginning.