CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman Steps Down After Brands Cut Ties Over His George Floyd Remarks

After provoking a massive backlash with remarks about George Floyd's death, CrossFit founder Greg Glassman announced Tuesday (June 9) that he's stepping down as CEO and retiring from the company.

Glassman said he can't jeopardize the company he built 20 years ago because of his actions, as brands and sports personalities aligned with CrossFit cut their ties in response to the comments.

The CEO of one of the world's largest gym networks took responsibility for creating "a rift in the CrossFit community and unintentionally" hurting many of its members.

"Those who know me know that my sole issue is the chronic disease epidemic," Glassman said in a post on CrossFit's official Instagram account. "I know that CrossFit is the solution to this epidemic and that CrossFit HQ and its staff serve as the stewards of CrossFit affiliates worldwide. I cannot let my behavior stand in the way of HQ's or affiliates' missions. They are too important to jeopardize."

On Saturday, Glassman had replied to a tweet by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the coronavirus monitoring health agency, which cited racism as a public health emergency.

"It's FLOYD-19," Glassman posted and then went on to rant about the coronavirus quarantine and George Floyd's death that sparked widespread week-long protests against police brutality and racism across the United States.

"Your failed model quarantined us and now you're going to model a solution to racism?" Glassman asked. "George Floyd’s brutal murder sparked riots nationally. Quarantine alone is ‘accompanied in every age and under all political regimes by an undercurrent of suspicion, distrust, and riots.'"

Glassman's comments were labeled as tone-deaf by CrossFit members, prompting a big brand like Reebok to end its partnership with the company. The CEO apologized for his comments Sunday.

"I was trying to stick it to the @IHME_UW for their invalidated models resulting in needless, economy-wrecking, life-wrecking lockdown," he said. "Involving George Floyd's name in that effort was wrong."

By Monday, however, 50 individuals and organizations followed Reebok's move and cut their support for CrossFit, including the WIT, the global distributor for CrossFit products; FITAID; MisFit Athletics; NOBULL; Born Primitive; among others. Sports coaches and live sports personalities like Armen Hammer, Matt O’Keefe, Craig Ritchey and Chris Hinshaw also distanced themselves from the company and Glassman.

Dave Castro, who worked as the director of CrossFit Games, will step in as the new CEO.

"Our shared bond brings together millions of people with differing opinions, viewpoints and experiences. Friction is inevitable," Castro said in a statement on the company's website. "Common ground, mutual respect and fellowship must also be inevitable."