Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore claims he terminated his membership with SoulCycle fitness club because its key investor was hosting a fundraiser for President Donald Trump 2020 re-election campaign—but the company doesn’t offer memberships, according to its website.
“That’s it! Just canceled my @SoulCycle membership!” Moore wrote on Twitter Wednesday, Aug. 7, days ahead of the fundraising event that took place in the Hamptons on Friday, reported The Daily Beast.
But according to SoulCycle’s website, the fitness center does not offer memberships. “No. SoulCycle does not offer memberships. It does not require any long-term commitment. Rather, you can buy as many or as few classes as you like. If you want to buy one class, that’s fine. But, if you’re riding regularly, our larger series offer a price discount,” the website states in its FAQ section.
That’s it! Just cancelled my @SoulCycle membership! https://t.co/YvoG4pQv7w
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) August 7, 2019
SoulCycle and Equinox are trendy, deluxe fitness clubs and part of an umbrella company of which billionaire Stephen Ross is a majority owner in, reported Out Magazine.
According to The Daily Beast, Ross is a personal friend of Trump and hosted a fundraising event in Southampton on Friday with proceeds going to the president’s 2020 reelection efforts. Attendees reportedly purchased tickets for $100,000 for a photo with Trump, or $250,000 for a seat at a round table discussion with the president.
Ross, 79, is also a real estate developer, philanthropist, and majority owner of the NFL team Miami Dolphins.
Billionaire owner of Equinox and SoulCycle to host a Trump fundraiser in the Hamptons https://t.co/8CuiuoHdAX
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 7, 2019
Out Magazine reported that the brands under the umbrella company Ross owns have released a statement to the press saying Ross is a “passive investor and is not involved in the management of either business.”
“Neither Equinox nor SoulCycle [which is also under the umbrella company] have anything to do with the event later this week and do not support it. As is consistent with our policies, no company profits are used to fund politicians. We are committed to all our members and the communities we live in. We believe in tolerance and equality, and will always stay true to those values,” the statement added.
Trump Defends Home Depot Co-founder After Boycott Threats
In July, people said they would boycott the home improvement chain Home Depot after its co-founder said he would donate to Trump’s reelection campaign.
Bernie Marcus recently said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) that he would donate part of his massive fortune to Trump’s 2020 campaign. According to Forbes, Marcus has a total net worth of $5.9 billion.
The billionaire donated $7 million to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics; Marcus didn’t reveal how much he specifically planned to donate this time.
In response to Marcus offering his support for the president, reports emerged of people threatening to boycott the store, with the #BoycottHomeDepot hashtag trending on Twitter at some point.
Trump, on July 9, launched a defense of Marcus in response to the boycott call.
“A truly great, patriotic & charitable man, Bernie Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot who, at the age of 90, is coming under attack by the Radical Left Democrats with one of their often used weapons,” Trump wrote.
A truly great, patriotic & charitable man, Bernie Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot who, at the age of 90, is coming under attack by the Radical Left Democrats with one of their often used weapons. They don’t want people to shop at those GREAT stores because he contributed….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 10, 2019
Epoch Times reporter Bowen Xiao contributed to this report.
