Planet Fitness hit by 28 bomb threats at US locations amid row over Alaska gym member’s ban for depicting trans women shaving in female locker room
At least 28 Planet Fitness locations have been targeted with bomb threats after the gym franchise made waves for banning a customer who shared a photo of a transgender woman shaving in the bathroom.
From Florida to Alabama, dozens of locations in eleven different states have reported hoax bomb threats after weeks of backlash against the chain’s “trans-inclusive” locker room policy and decision to ban the member, as reported by Media matters.
Patricia Silva, 67, made headlines in March after she claimed she saw a “man with a penis” washing in front of a 12-year-old girl in the women’s locker room.
Silva was banned from the Alaska gym and the gym franchise refused to reverse its decision, despite its valuation falling by $400 million in five days after the incident.
No bombs were found in any of the facilities, but the threats forced dozens of businesses to evacuate their buildings and prompted FBI agents to launch an investigation.
At least 28 Planet Fitness locations have been targeted with bomb threats after the gym franchise made waves for banning a customer who shared a photo of a transgender woman shaving in the bathroom. Pictured: A location targeted by bomb threats in Jackson, Mississippi
Patricia Silva was banned from Planet Fitness after sharing a photo of ‘a man with a penis’ using the female locker room to shave
The first location targeted in the series of incidents was Fairbanks, Alaska, where Silva was exercising and claimed to have seen “a man shaving in the ladies’ room.”
Silva posted a video on Facebook in early March detailing her experience at the gym and shared a photo of the person online.
On March 13, Planet Fitness revoked Silva’s membership and filed a citation against her, citing her violation of gym policy by taking photos and/or videos in the locker room.
An email sent on March 15 states that bombs have been planted at the Planet Fitness location at 1255 Airport Way and threatens to “blow up the building,” according to a local newspaper. KTVF.
Fairbanks police found no bombs at the property and said the threat was “fake.”
Since TikTok’s X account Libs reposted Silva’s video and Planet Fitness’ statement, more locations across the country have reported being targeted by bomb threats.
Planet Fitness in Fairbanks, Alaska touts its ‘judgment-free zone’ to its members – but canceled Silva’s membership after she complained about the incident
Planet Fitness’ policy stated that ‘discomfort is not a reason to deny admission to the transgender member’
At least four locations in Providence, Rhode Island, four in Mississippi, three in Connecticut and six in Michigan reported receiving bomb threats.
Similar incidents were also reported at three Planet Fitness locations in Alabama, three in Florida, one in Virginia, one in Maryland and one in Kansas.
Local police agencies and the FBI have begun investigating the threats, with more and more social media users joining the boycott against the gym franchise.
In the viral video, Silva said she had just finished working out at the Planet Fitness location in Fairbanks when she saw the person, who she called “a man with a penis,” performing his routine in front of a 12-year-old . girl.
Silva, who previously ran for Fairbanks Borough Assembly, told the “trans woman” that they should really use the men’s locker room. The trans woman responded that they were “LGB.”
Silva then took a photo of the person, shared it online and recounted her experience in a Facebook video: “I just came from Planet Fitness.
‘There’s a man shaving in the ladies’ room. I love him in Christ. He is a spiritual being having a human experience.
‘He doesn’t like his gender so he wants to be a woman, but I don’t like him shaving in my bathroom. I thought I’d just say it out loud.’
Silva — who has shared QAnon conspiracy theories on social media — also described the encounter in a written post online.
“I went to Planet Fitness…Walked in the bathroom and there’s a MAN shaving…I looked at him, said ‘hey’…he looked up…and I said, ‘ You’re a man who shaves in the ladies’ room, and I’m not okay with that.’
‘He replied… ‘Well, I’m LGBT…’
“Whatever that is…I still told him, ‘You’re a MAN and you’re invading my space!’
‘He wanted to argue to justify why he could be there… I walked away…
‘I stepped out of the dressing room and asked loudly at the reception: ‘Did you know that there is a MAN shaving in the ladies’ room… I don’t agree with that ⁉️’ The two men standing at the desk raise their heads down, and their tails between their legs! As I walked out the door…behind me a woman shouts ‘it’s a girl’…I shouted back ‘it’s a man!’
“PF canceled my membership and allowed the pedo to stay ‼️,” she stated.
Her actions were contrary to the gym’s commitment to “creating an inclusive and safe environment.”
Silva, from Alaska, is seen in Facebook photos with her husband and daughter
The gym has defended its inclusive policies without judgment and banned Silva from returning to the gym, resulting in her membership being canceled
Planet Fitness’ statement, shared by TikTok’s Libs, followed the same line. They doubled down on their decision.
In their statement, the gym said staff must “work with members and employees to address this inconvenience (sharing facilities with transgender members) and promote a climate of understanding consistent with Planet Fitness’ non-judgmental nature.”
The statement continued: “Planet Fitness staff will strive to address transgender members by names, titles, pronouns and other terms consistent with their self-reported gender identity, when reasonably known to Planet Fitness staff.”
The statement said that “a transgender woman will be referred to by her preferred name and feminine pronouns.”
And a “transgender man will be referred to by his preferred name and male pronouns.”
It concluded that the gym “reserves the right to immediately terminate any individual’s membership for any violation of this policy.”