Twitter, celebrities react to Equinox and SoulCycle boycott

Luxury gym Equinox and indoor cycling studio SoulCycle are facing a backlash over a fundraiser being held for President Donald Trump by Stephen Ross, founder-chairman of SoulCycle and Equinox's parent company. Click through the gallery to see the best social media reactions to the boycott. less Luxury gym Equinox and indoor cycling studio SoulCycle are facing a backlash over a fundraiser being held for President Donald Trump by Stephen Ross, founder-chairman of SoulCycle and Equinox's parent company. ... more Photo: Screenshot Via Twitter Photo: Screenshot Via Twitter Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Twitter, celebrities react to Equinox and SoulCycle boycott 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

The latest target of Twitter's outrage is ... spin the wheel ... a luxury fitness club and an indoor cycling studio, which cost around $200/month and $32/class respectively.

On Wednesday, a small group of protesters gathered by the San Francisco SoulCycle in the Castro chanting, "Boycott SoulCycle."

The nationwide boycott launched after it became publicly known that Stephen Ross, the founder-chairman of SoulCycle and Equinox's parent company, is hosting a fundraising lunch for Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign in the Hamptons this Friday.

"The irony that this business is sitting here in Harvey Milk Plaza, it makes my blood boil," Curtis Jensen, a protestor at the Castro SoulCycle, told KTVU.

The Castro protest was organized by longtime San Francisco LGBTQ activist Michael Petrelis, who sent out a news release that said members of the LGBT community "are launching a boycott of these businesses."

After the backlash, Ross released a statement to CNN, saying, "I have known Donald Trump for 40 years, and while we agree on some issues, we strongly disagree on many others..." and "... I have been, and will continue to be, an outspoken champion of racial equality, inclusion, [and] diversity..."

SoulCycle and Equinox have attempted to distance themselves from Ross, calling him a "passive investor" and saying that "no company profits are used to fund politicians."

Meanwhile, celebrities have joined in the boycott. "Hey @Equinox - what's your policy for canceling memberships once a member finds out your owner is enabling racism and mass murder?" tweeted comedian Billy Eichner.

Others on social media have joked that they've been "boycotting" Equinox and SoulCycle for years due to not being able to afford the pricey membership fee.

Click through the gallery above to see some of the most popular #BoycottEquinox tweets.

Madeline Wells is an SFGate editorial assistant. Email: madeline.wells@sfgate.com | Twitter: @madwells22

