A woman is outraged after claiming she was expelled from a Planet Fitness in New Hampshire for reporting that a man had entered the women's locker room. Judy Walcott, a long-standing member of a Concord location, described her alarming experience in a Facebook post in April. She said she entered the women's locker room and saw a man preparing to shower, leaving her trembling. When she approached gym staff to file a report, employees reportedly stated they could do nothing due to company policy.
Gym Policy and Response
Planet Fitness's website policy regarding locker room use states: 'All members and team members may use Planet Fitness locker room facilities and programs based on their self-reported gender identity; these facilities include bathrooms, showers, and all other facilities separated by sex.' The gym defines gender identity as a 'person's sense of self as male, female, or non-binary,' which may not align with their sex assigned at birth. Walcott claimed that when she inquired about the policy for scared members, she was labeled transphobic, talked over, and told she could cancel her membership if uncomfortable.
Alleged Forgery and Trespass
Walcott wrote that hours later, a manager named Cassie called to cancel her membership for violating policy. However, a Planet Fitness employee at the Concord location told the Daily Mail that no manager named Cassie exists there. Walcott claimed the manager did not cite specific policies and did not let her speak. In a follow-up post, she alleged that the manager forged a cancellation form on her behalf and charged her an extra month. 'She completed a Cancellation Document on my behalf - STAGING my cancellation as if I requested it, put a false email address so I wouldn't receive my copy, illegally signed my name, and then took another month's fees,' Walcott wrote, accompanied by an unverified photo of the document. She also stated that when she returned to the gym, the manager called the police and had her trespassed.
Financial Impact and Previous Incidents
In March 2024, Planet Fitness lost $400 million in value five days after banning a member who shared a photo of a transgender woman using a female locker room. The company's value dropped from $5.3 billion on March 14 to $4.9 billion on March 19, with shares down 13.59% from a month prior. As of this report, Planet Fitness's value stands at $4 billion. This decline followed the gym's refusal to reverse its ban on Patricia Silva, who was barred from an Alaska location after detailing an incident where she saw a transgender woman in the locker room. Planet Fitness revoked Silva's membership and filed a police report, citing violation of the gym's mobile device policy prohibiting photos in locker rooms. The company reiterated its commitment to an inclusive environment, stating that 'discomfort is not a reason to deny access to the transgender member.'
Legal Action and Corporate Stance
Walcott claimed she contacted an attorney and will pursue legal action if the situation is not resolved. When contacted by the Daily Mail, Planet Fitness reiterated its policy statement: 'As the home of the Judgment Free Zone, Planet Fitness is committed to creating an inclusive environment. Our gender identity non-discrimination policy states that members and guests may use the gym facilities that best align with their sincere, self-reported gender identity.' The statement added that the member who posted on social media violated the mobile device policy, leading to membership termination. The Daily Mail has reached out to Planet Fitness for further comment.
