SoulCycle to offer classes supporting 'social justice causes' after 'difficult' week


SoulCycle is offering free classes that will benefit "social justice causes" after coming under fire for its owner's support of President Trump, The Daily Beast reports.
The fitness company's CEO, Melanie Whelan, in an email on Friday said it had been a "difficult" week following days of controversy over reports that its billionaire owner Stephen Ross would hold a Trump fundraiser. Whelan goes on to write that instructors are now being invited to teach a free class supporting a cause that is "true in their heart."
"We've spent 13 years building a community based on diversity, inclusion, acceptance and love," Whelan writes. "We know who we are, we know what we believe, and we deliver on those values every day. This is about our values. So today, we are responding in the best way we know how — with diversity, inclusion, acceptance, and love."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Whelan adds that this will be a way that "our community can start to heal."
Reports that the owner of SoulCycle, as well as the fitness company Equinox, planned to fundraise for Trump drew outrage and calls for boycotts this week, with Ross releasing a statement saying that he is an "outspoken champion of racial equality, inclusion, diversity, public education and environmental sustainability."
Ross, Axios reported on Friday, has been "freaked out" by the backlash to his fundraiser and considered calling it off. But Trump insists he has nothing to worry about, saying on Friday that "the controversy makes Steve Ross hotter. He'll figure that out in about a week."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Gold tops $4K per ounce, signaling financial unease
Speed Read Investors are worried about President Donald Trump’s trade war
-
Electronic Arts to go private in record $55B deal
speed read The video game giant is behind ‘The Sims’ and ‘Madden NFL’
-
New York court tosses Trump's $500M fraud fine
Speed Read A divided appeals court threw out a hefty penalty against President Trump for fraudulently inflating his wealth
-
Trump said to seek government stake in Intel
Speed Read The president and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan reportedly discussed the proposal at a recent meeting
-
US to take 15% cut of AI chip sales to China
Speed Read Nvidia and AMD will pay the Trump administration 15% of their revenue from selling artificial intelligence chips to China
-
NFL gets ESPN stake in deal with Disney
Speed Read The deal gives the NFL a 10% stake in Disney's ESPN sports empire and gives ESPN ownership of NFL Network
-
Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal
Speed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung
-
FCC greenlights $8B Paramount-Skydance merger
Speed Read The Federal Communications Commission will allow Paramount to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance