Gym slammed as “fatphobic” over detail in advertisement
A small detail in a gym’s advertising calling for models to promote their new apparel range has sparked outrage online for being “fatphobic” and lacking size inclusivity.
The gym chain shared a notice online looking for female models between a size extra small and a small.
Hundreds of people called out the gym for the “sickening” size requirement, saying it is unfair to gym-goers bigger than a size eight.
However, some pointed out models of larger sizes could already be included or casters are trying to find people who fit in sample sizes.
The gym has explained the post was a “miscommunication” and that they were looking for models of a specific size based on the clothing their suppliers provided.
“How's this for size inclusivity?” one of the gym members wrote online alongside a screenshot of the advertisement.
“We are looking for male and female eCommerce models to shoot our new apparel - Melbourne based,” the message from the gym read.
It said they were after medium-sized male models and female models who fit an XS or S.
The woman’s post reached hundreds of people, many sharing their outrage over the ad.
“Yuck they actually put this on the internet," one woman wrote.
“I hate it here. How hard is it to just support inclusivity??” another added.
“Because people still don't like us fat people, especially gyms,” a third replied.
Many came to the gym’s defence and didn’t see any issue with the detail asking for smaller models.
"I'm a chunky girl and honestly this isn't that serious or offensive. More important things to worry about!” one woman wrote.
“It's really not that deep, they are probably modelling sample sizes,” a second added.
“It's also a gym so they're gonna wanna be promoting 'fitter' people more than likely,” a third responded.
Sample sizes refer to clothing sent out by brands and designers for press, modelling and PR purposes.
They are typically made in small sizes supposedly to save money on fabric but have been slammed for not representing average body types.
Those angered by the ad were not convinced by the defenders’ reasons, with one saying, “The fact there are so many 'what ifs!' Instead of just supporting body inclusivity is mind boggling to me.”
“I'm gonna need a follow up when they post photos from their model call because the amount of people in here assuming they've already shot larger sizes are sweet, but most likely wrong,” a second added.
After explaining it was a “miscommunication”, a spokesperson for the gym added that it did not intend to exclude anyone or insinuate negative stereotypes.
They said they had only received clothing in extra small and small from suppliers despite requesting a range of sizes.
Image credit: Instagram/Shutterstock