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Filed under: Entertainment, Lesbian, National News
Mon. May 12, 2008 5:16:45 PM
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West Hollywood, CA — Lesbian fitness guru Jackie Warner needs a new sponsor! Sports beverage Gatorade pulled its sponsorship from Warner's reality fitness show Work Out, on the Bravo network, in response to letters of outrage from Work Out viewers over insensitive remarks she and her business manager made about a client's breasts.
The husband of a client at Warner's Skylab gym called Warner and her co-worker to the carpet when he overheard their on-camera quips about the shape of his wife's breasts, for which she'd undergone work from a struggle with breast cancer.
Warner and her employee and onscreen nemesis Brian Peeler, the client's trainer, came to blows later in the episode when Peeler insisted on further discussing the situation. She refused.
"We have notified Bravo we no longer wish to be associated with The Work Out [sic] and will be pulling our commercials. Furthermore, we will not renew our sponsorship of this program in subsequent seasons," said a Gatorade spokesperson.
The beverage chose to pull sponsorship following a spate of negative letters from Work Out viewers, in which Warner has been called, "a negative icon for the gay community."
Warner took to her Bravo blog to quell the backlash by writing that Peeler had tried to demonize her on camera. She also said that editors cut all of the "good" stuff out of the episode.
"I did not make a derogatory remark about Brian Peeler's client on camera or off-camera. The only reason he tried to bring it up to me on camera is to villianize me and set me up for something I didn't do," wrote Warner.
But despite attempts to mollify viewers and Gatorade, the beverage company has refused to associate with Warner and her show.
"We hope our immediate actions send a clear message to the community that we greatly value what you have to say, agree with your sentiments, and appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with us," said a Gatorade spokesperson.
Article provided in partnership with GayWebMonkey.com.
Cancer survivor on Wednesday, 5/14/2008
After watching the show this season, I can't believe that Jackie would be insensitive towards someone in the way she's been vilified. I'm still planning to stop by and see her this weekend when she visits Chicago.
Guest on Wednesday, 5/21/2008
Jackie's reputation is slowly spinning downward. It is ridiculous how she keeps trying to promote all of her terrible products on the show as well. What a joke.
Kim S. on Monday, 6/9/2008
If you remove the breast cancer comment from the equation, Jackie's behavior as a boss still borders on illegal. For the average intelligent person, the issue is not "what she said", but the fact that if she didn't say it, she allowed her staff to say it. BTW< in Lisa's blog and apology she admits that she AND Jackie said derrogatory remarks.
Jackie has been a sexual predator to the straight women on the show, created a hostile work environment and has subjected a staff to a wrongful termination. She also openly displays special treatment to her "favorites".
In business there is a proper way of doing things and Jackie has done the exact opposite in many cases, including her recent DUI arrest. The examples she projects are not in a positive light for the fitness community or the gay/lesbian community. No wonder her former partner Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser has put so much distance between them.
Jackie has no college degree and no formal education in fitness or business. She is 40 years old, and acting 18. She is a great sales person, but has no actual business sense. She as broken several laws, but I am sure the cast signed waivers and can't sue.
Kat, you sound very young in your writing and most likely do not have college degree, backgound in fitness or business management. But employment laws exists for the protection of employees. When you get a chance, look up:
Quid pro quo, hostile work environment, defamation of character, slander and gender discrimination and see if you still think Jackie is wonderful.
Workout is a reality tv show, so there are some moments that are scripted and many of the trainers and clients are actors, that is a given. Most people watching the show, realize this and watch for entertainment purposes only. However, when a show crosses the line and openly breaks the law on tv, sponors and viewers alike have to call them on it. Advertisers pay millions of dollars for product placement and association on popular shows. Jackie's behavior costs Bravo two sponsors Soyjoy and Propel/Gatorade. That is the loss of several millions of dollars. The sponsors viewed the segments and made the informed decision that the behavior was so inapproriate they would rather not be associated with Workout or Jackie Warner. From a business stand point, that was a HUGE statement.
theres on Friday, 6/20/2008
lisa is hot! finally beauty n brains... it's ovious she runs that joint. all the trainers r boring n lifeless
Kat on Wednesday, 5/14/2008
To think that in this day and age people who watch a show ,knowing darn well that so much is not shown,and that also if you can actualy sit there and say you have never said abad thing about another person then i'd like to meet you,and through the first stone.People in sports for whom are also sponserd by gatorade have nerer lost anites sleep over what they hve said.Like people wuld stop there products anyway.Jackie Warner inspiers many and for those of you that have a corn cobb stuck up you ass spin on it until you made your own gas then light a match.