
Since the announcement that Richard Rowling, owner of Gold's Gym parent company, made a $2 million donation to American Crossroads, which supports anti-gay candidates, people were outraged.
Sebastyen and Zsolt Jackovics, two brothers who own four Gold's Gym locations, are consulting with attorneys to leave their contract before its 2012 expiration date.
"What's clear to us is that we don't see any circumstances that we can continue after what's happened," said Sebastyen.
Gym members have been complaining to staff about the donations, so Don Dickerson, the director of operations for Gold's Gym Bay Area, sent out an e-mail to members announcing that the owners plan to give up its franchise association.
The letter reads:
"It is very unfortunate that the CEO of TRT Holdings has chosen this course of action. We do not support it in any way. Our original contractual obligations to Gold's Gym International were signed over 22 years ago and TRT Holdings is just the latest in a series of ownership groups that has presided over Gold's Gym."
David Reiseman, the communications director for Gold's Gym International, also gave a statement opposing the donations.
It reads:
"Gold's Gym did not make a donation to American Crossroads (or any other political organization) and in no way supports antigay causes. Quite the contrary, the Gold’s Gym family has been strong supporters of the LGBT community over the years. This includes supporting pride events, sponsoring LGBT media outlets, and donating to various LGBT charities in the communities we serve."
Sad it's come to this!
Tags: golds gym, san francisco