Peloton husband, despite the controversy, gifts real-life girlfriend a ... Peloton bike

Rasha Ali | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Peloton's 'unsettling' holiday ad sparks Internet backlash Peloton's new holiday ad leaves people saying it's 'unsettling' and 'creepy.'

When life imitates art ...

The infamous Peloton husband, who starred in a controversial holiday commercial for the company last month, gifted his real-life girlfriend the fitness bike for Christmas.

Sean Hunter, who plays the husband in the ad, shared a photo to his Instagram account on Christmas of his girlfriend sitting on a Peloton bike with a bow attached to it. He stands next to her, smiling.

"Here’s hoping this goes over better the second time.... Merry Christmas to my actual girlfriend (pls don’t leave me)," Hunter captioned his post. Hunter confirmed to USA TODAY he runs the Instagram account himself.

Hunter took a risk giving his partner the same bike he got in trouble for giving his commercial wife in Peloton's holiday campaign, but it looks like it went over well in real life.

"She laughed a little when it came because of everything that’s happened, but reiterated that it was a fantastic present and she’s super happy," Hunter told USA TODAY in an email. "Both of us have taken it for a few spins and it’s unreal."

Hunter said that during the controversy over the ad, his girlfriend remarked that it would be nice to have a Peloton, which is how he came up with the idea to get her one.

Peloton’s ad campaign went viral in November thanks to its botched premise. The commercial ignited social media with commentary about how the indoor bike startup's 30-second clip missed the mark. Some people called it offensive.

The ad kicks off with a slim, young mother and her daughter in pajamas descending upon their luxurious living room to find that the father bought the mom a $2,245 stationary bike for Christmas.

"A Peloton?" the mother says as she uncovers her eyes. She records herself riding the bike for a year. It's unclear to viewers how the main character has changed over the timespan. "A year ago, I didn't realize how much this would change me," she said.

Several people on Twitter said buying a bike for your lover is one of the fastest ways to end a relationship.

"If you buy your wife a (Peloton) for Christmas she's going to have a super hard body for her new boyfriend," @SuperTeeWhy wrote.

"Giving your wife a Peloton exercise bike for Xmas might not be a good idea. Unless you want divorce papers before 2020 arrives," @Mindtribe69 wrote.

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Contributing: Dalvin Brown and Hemal Jhaveri