Planet Fitness stock price drops sharply due to a controversy involving a transgender issue.

The debate surrounding inclusivity and gender identity has taken a heated turn, particularly in the context of Planet Fitness. The gym chain is currently facing significant backlash after a video featuring an unhappy member went viral, igniting discussions about access to gender-specific spaces.

The controversy began when a woman in Alaska posted a photo of a transgender woman using the women’s locker room at the Fairbanks Planet Fitness. In her post, she accused the gym of allowing “men” into a space she believes should be reserved exclusively for cisgender women. The image captured a transgender woman shaving at a sink, and the woman who took the photo subsequently recorded an impassioned video expressing her outrage over the situation. This video quickly gained traction online, fueling a widespread debate about the policies governing access to gendered spaces.

The fallout from this incident has had tangible consequences for Planet Fitness. In a striking turn of events, the company’s stock price has plummeted from $66 to approximately $56 within just 12 days. This sharp decline has resulted in a staggering loss of around $400 million in market value, with the company’s worth dropping from $5.3 billion to about $4.9 billion in a mere five days.

This situation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding gender identity and the rights of transgender individuals, particularly in spaces traditionally designated for women. Advocates for transgender rights argue that everyone should have the right to access facilities that align with their gender identity, while critics maintain that such policies may infringe upon the comfort and safety of cisgender women.

As the debate continues to unfold, it raises important questions about inclusivity, the nature of gendered spaces, and how society navigates the complexities of identity. Planet Fitness now finds itself at the center of this contentious issue, grappling with the implications of its policies and the reactions of its members and the public. The outcome of this debate could have far-reaching effects, not only on the gym chain itself but also on broader discussions about gender and inclusion in public spaces.