INDIANAPOLIS -- A CrossFit corporate leader has been fired after he offered support for an Indy gym’s decision to cancel a pride-themed workout this week.
CrossFit's Chief Knowledge Officer Russell Berger Tweeted early Wednesday that he encouraged the gym's decision to refuse to hold the workouts, and thanked them for standing by their convictions and "refusing to celebrate sin."
READ | Members leaveCrossFitgym after they cancel a pride-themed workout
“Thank you #CrossFitInfiltrate for standing by your convictions and refusing to celebrate sin by hosting an @indypride workout,” Berger shared on his personal Twitter account. "The intolerance of the LBGTQ ideology toward any alternative views is mind-blowing."
Berger followed up the Tweet with a series of explanations and reasonings before eventually deleting them all.
The company Tweeted Wednesday just after 5 p.m. that Berger had been placed on administrative leave while management "completes a thorough review."
Effective immediately, Russell Berger has been placed on unpaid leave while management completes a thorough review.
— CrossFit (@CrossFit) June 6, 2018
Just before 8 p.m., the company sent another Tweet announcing that Berger had been terminated.
The statements made today by Russell Berger do not reflect the views of CrossFit Inc. For this reason, his employment with CrossFit has been terminated.
— CrossFit (@CrossFit) June 6, 2018
Berger's message came after the owner of CrossFit Infiltrate in downtown Indianapolis, Brandon Lowe, sent an email to its members canceling a pride-themed workout this week.
Lowe's email said the goal of the gym is total health and well-being of the individual and the community. It went on to say, "We believe that true health forever can only be found within humility - not pride."
Lowe sent RTV6 a statement about the cancellation of the workout, saying, in part "The gym has a history of welcoming and serving people training to be fit." and "The gym never has and never will be anything but welcoming to all human beings who live, move and breathe and God's world."
Following the message, several employees quit and dozens of members have already canceled their memberships.
A short time later, CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman shared a message on the company’s personal Twitter account saying he’s “crazy proud of the gay community in CrossFit.”
“I am crazy proud of the gay community in CrossFit.”
— CrossFit (@CrossFit) June 6, 2018
Some employees have rescheduled the planned workout. It will now happen Thursday at 8 p.m. on the St. Clair Bridge on the canal. It's open to the entire community.
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