(Newser)
– If there’s one thing fans of high-profile fitness instructor Stacey Griffith can console themselves these days, it’s that it’s the rare celebrity who knows how to deliver unqualified apologies. “I want to apologize wholeheartedly for my recent action on receiving the vaccine,” the SoulCycle instructor wrote on Instagram. “I made a terrible mistake in the trial and that’s why I’m sorry.” As he refers to his apologies, Griffith went into the hot water for the COVID vaccine, specifically how he lined up to get it. Coverage:
- The shot: On Friday, the 52-year-old boasted in a post since Instagram removal that she had received the first dose of “Modern Magic” on Staten Island, reports the Washington Post. He also thanked some people for helping him navigate the paperwork. The reaction was quick and furious, and critics wondered how and why a SoulCycle instructor jumped ahead of health workers, seniors, teachers, etc., who are still waiting for their shots, for People. Fitness instructors are not supposed to be among those currently receiving shots in New York.
- His defense: Griffith initially defended herself, telling the Daily Beast that she was an “educator” in her own way. “My priority is to keep my community and their respiratory systems running at full capacity on a daily basis so they can beat this virus if they are infected,” he said. “I can only teach them if I’m healthy.”
- The company responds: This justification did nothing to appease critics, including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I don’t think anyone who shows up and says,‘ Hey, I’m a SoulCycle instructor ’should have qualified unless there’s some other factor,” he says. “This should have been caught in the application process.” SoulCycle itself has responded to the controversy by stating that its instructors are not “educators” and should not do what Griffith did, Vox reports. It was also very difficult to point out that Griffith acted alone.
- Larger image: Alex Abad-Santos ’Vox post sees the controversy as part of a bigger problem. “While there are rules about who is able to get the vaccine, being rich and well connected can help someone jump the line.” Not to help is that SoulCycle is generally considered a luxury product for affluent people. “That Griffith can get the vaccine symbolizes how easy it can be for rich people to get what they want, ahead of everyone else, especially those who meet the requirements under New York guidelines and have not yet been able to schedule an appointment “.
(Read more SoulCycle stories).