
Protesters have gathered outside a gym in West Hollywood in a bid to urge members to boycott Equinox and SoulCycle after their owner threw a lavish fundraiser for Donald Trump.

Stephen Ross, chairman of the fitness brands' parent company The Related Cos., came under fire for the benefit on Friday in Southampton, New York.

Tickets for the lavish party costed up to $250,000, and along with another event is expected to have brought in up to $12 million for the president's 2020 campaign the LA Times reported.

The protest was organized by Gonzalo Garcia and his friend Adam Bass, who joined a crowd with banners, flags and chants denouncing the fitness company for its ties to Trump.

Around 100 people gathered to voice their frustration with the companies according to the Advocate, but inside was still 'as packed' as it had been all week according to gym-goers of the Sunset Boulevard spot.

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Protesters held signs including 'Trump has no soul' and chanted that 'Donald Trump has got to go' outside an Equinox gym in West Hollywood

Protesters brought flags, signs and flags which they waved to show their defiance to Equinox and SoulCycle whose parent company owner held a fundraiser for Trump's reelection campaign on Friday

Protesters considered the funds given by Ross as 'blood money' after he raised funds for Trump's 2020 campaign on Friday.

One of the organizers Gonzalo Garcia (center) spoke to the crowds with a microphone, bearing a Wonder Woman 'resist' t-shirt

Protesters say the fitness company, which boasted about being LGBTQ friendly, was betraying members because the owner was endorsing Trump and his policies.

Garcia, 39, who is not a member of Equinox but wore a Wonder Woman 'resist' t-shirt to the protest, said that as a gay man of color who was born to immigrant parents he felt compelled to act.

He told the Times that he didn't care 'if it’s just me and my friend Adam standing there with some signs.

'I don’t want to see [Trump] reelected for another four years. I don’t think we’ll be able to recover if he is.'

Protesters said they were outraged about Trump's ban on transgender individuals in the military, the ending of the Obamacare system and reduced workplace protections for the trans community, the Times reported.

Others took offense at the president's general use of language when describing or talking to people of color and immigrants.

Garcia's parents moved from Cuba to America in 1970 and claims his family faced discrimination and xenophobic abuse, similar to what he believes is 'rampant today.'

He added: 'We just cannot support a president that creates that rhetoric and tone in this country.

'I’ve been angry and infuriated for a few years now, and it’s gotten to a point — it’s a tipping point for me where I have to do something.'

As well as calling for membership cancellations and an overall boycott, Garcia and others joined the protest at Equinox gym in West Hollywood.

But the protests might not have had the effect that the organizers wanted.

One Equinox gym-goer who had been undeterred by the protests told Fox: 'The gym was completely packed, it's been packed every day, so no I do not believe this will have any effect whatsoever.'

The two organizers of the protest Gonzalo Garcia (left) and his friend Adam Bass (right). Garcia said that as a gay man of color that he could not support Equinox and wanted to take action

A crowd that gathered outside of a West Hollywood Equinox gym to protest the fitness organizations affiliation to Ross

In Southampton, New York, others took to the streets to protest Trump arriving at the home of Ross for a 2020 reelection fundraiser

In the Hamptons, New York, where people gathered to protest Trump's arrival for a fundraiser organized by Ross

Elsewhere in the US, some held signs reading 'blood money' with dollar signs while others photographed themselves flipping-off the gym or cancellation their memberships.

The crowds that gathered in Los Angeles on Friday held signs including 'Trump has no soul' and 'Equi-NOT' as well as 'Honk for accountability.'

Some chanted, 'Our voices are strong, our voices are loud' as well as another song that ended 'Donald Trump has got to go.'

One former member, who spoke to Fox11, said: 'I'm tired of them taking my money and also turning around and supporting a candidate who support me and my community.'

Another believed Ross must support the 'discriminatory regulations' passed by Trump against the LGBTQ community to hold a fundraiser for him.

He said: 'It's kind of very contradictory to say something like that and take a stand and not really take a full stand in what you actually believe in.'

Both brands SoulCylce and Equinox have tried to distance themselves from Ross. In statements they described him as an 'investor' with little involvement but others called it 'blood money'

SoulCycle (above) and Equinox both tried to distance themselves from Ross and his fundraiser, describing him as a 'passive investor'

On social media, some users have posted about being uncomfortable using the fitness brands. One user flipped off Equinox (left) and in a second man who identifies as gay states that he cannot use a free SoulCycle class (right)

Equinox and SoulCycle individually posted statements that tried to distance themselves from their billionaire owner on Wednesday.

Both stated 'no company profits are used to fund politicians' and that they 'have nothing to do with the event and do not support it.'

The posts described Ross as a 'passive investor... not involved in the management.'

SoulCycle also added: 'We believe in diversity, inclusion, and equality,' which in a paraphrased statement Equinox echoed.

In a released statement Ross described himself as having always been 'an active participant in the democratic process.'

Ross (left) held a fundraiser for Trump (right) on Friday that will go towards his reelection campaign in 2020

Ronna McDaniel (above), the Republican National Committee chairwoman, tried to taunt critics of the president

Ross, a real estate developer and owner of NFL team the Miami Dolphins, had contributed to both Democrats and Republicans in the past.

He claimed to have known Trump for 40 years in the statement and said they both agreed and disagreed on issues.

Ross said: 'I have never been bashful about expressing my opinions.

'I have been and will continue to be an outspoken champion of racial equality, inclusion, diversity, public education and environmental sustainability, and I have and will continue to support leaders on both sides of the aisle to address these challenges.'

When asked for comment on the controversy over the fundraiser on Friday, Trump described Ross as a 'great friend of mine... a very successful guy.'

Trump added: 'He is by the way... probably more inclined to be a liberal if you want to know the truth, but he likes me, he respects me.

'I understand the fundraiser was totally sold out and it’s very successful.'

Speaking of the outcry and backlash faced by Ross, Trump said it would turn into favor adding: 'The controversy makes Steve Ross hotter.'

Chrissy Tiegen (above) was one of many people online encouraging others to leave Equinox and SoulCycle

Musician Genesis Jones also supported the movement, describing giving up the brands as 'healthier choices'

People online posted their cancellation emails to Equinox and SoulCycle (left). Another posted a response they have allegedly received after cancelling their Equinox membership (right)

Online several have backed the campaign including model Chrissy Tiegen who urged people to cancel their memberships.

She wrote in a tweet: 'Meet me at the gym. bring weights.'

Other fitness companies appeared to try and steal any lost custom from SoulCycle and Equinox.

New York Sports Club tweeted, 'FYI: This Friday, August 9th we’re not doing anything in Southampton,' the location where Ross' event took place.

On Friday they added that they would waive initiation fees for new members joining from a another gym and donate $10,000 to a non-profit that provides suicide prevent service for LGBTQ youth.

BurnCycle, based in the Pacific Northwest, announced they would donate all of Friday's profits to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills took aim at Ross to call him a hypocrite, stating that he could not fund raise for Trump while championing causes to help people of color.

Stills said: 'You can’t have a nonprofit with this mission statement then open your doors to Trump'.