Athletic lifestyle company Peloton recently announced they would be removing classes feat. Kanye West from their extensive on-demand library due to public outcry regarding Kanye’s recent dislike of the Black Lives Matter movement.
This decision by Peloton comes following comments made by Kanye West during a campaign rally for his run for the U.S. Presidential election. In the rally, Kanye expressed his dislike of the Black Lives Matter movement and the activity of protestors. His statements were condemned by both advocates of the movement, who saw it as a direct attack on an organization striving to gain more rights and recognition for black people in modern society, as well as by Peloton customers.
Peloton customers, many of whom are members of marginalized communities and those heavily impacted by police brutality and systemic racism, led the call for the removal of Kanye West’s tracks and classes from Peloton’s streaming service. Customers stressed that, due to the nature of the comments and the personal implications for many members of the Peloton community, it was necessary for the company to take a stance against the statements.
Peloton made a statement outlining their decision to remove classes featuring Kanye West from their on-demand streaming library and apologize to the community. They stipulated that the statement and their decision to discontinue the services did not denote a specific endorsement for any political party or candidate, instead simply meant to express their stance against the comments made by Kanye West.
The decision by Peloton was seen as a very welcome decision by many members of the Peloton community, who were looking for a response to Kanye’s comments and an acknowledgement that everyone should be able to access a safe and welcoming workout environment. Ultimately, this decision and the decision to show support to the Black Lives Matter movement is an example of Peloton’s beliefs and values when it comes to providing the very best service to their customers.