CrossFit CEO Steps Down After Defiantly Saying 'We're Not Mourning For George Floyd' On Staff Zoom Call

Greg Glassman, the CEO and head of CrossFit, faced severe criticism and several broken affiliations when he told gym owners on a private gym call:

"We're not mourning for George Floyd—I don't think me or any of my staff are."

Now—after recordings surfaced of him subscribing to wild conspiracy theories about Floyd's death—Glassman officially stepped down as the CEO of the internationally recognized fitness brand.

Glassman said after a Minneapolis CrossFit gym owner asked why the brand hadn't posted a statement in solidarity after Mr. Floyd's death:

"Can you tell me why I should mourn for him? Other than that it's the White thing to do — other than that, give me another reason."

There was also a series of inflammatory series tweets like these:

Several brands and gyms began to cut ties with CrossFit altogether as a result of Glassman's posts and comments.

Glassman then doubled down on conspiracy theories surrounding Floyd and the officer who killed him, Derek Chauvin, even after CrossFit posted an apology on his behalf.

Glassman said:

"It's very interesting that George gets popped with counterfeits, and who comes but the head of security from the dance club? Watch: This thing's going to turn into first-degree murder..."

"That's what it's going to turn into. And it's going to be because I'm predicting this. We have friends in the FBI in your neighborhood, and they're of the view that this was first-degree murder and it was to silence him over the counterfeit money."

"That's the belief. That's what the cops think."

During the call, Glassman also made comments about the protests and riots in Minneapolis.

"I would prefer a trial of a murderer rather than burning the city down. I think that the law has a better response."

"I think burning your city to the ground and burning a police station to the ground because a cop killed what was very likely going to be a coconspirator in a counterfeit ring — I just don't get the burning thing."

"How about the Black cop that was killed?..."

"Burning the town down was wrong, killing the Black cop was wrong, and the Black-on-Black murder every weekend in every one of our cities is a tragedy."

After several more conspiracy theories—including the ever-popular "the coronavirus escaped a lab in China"—and a call that devolved into a state that one CrossFit affiliate called "beyond awkward," several brands and gyms began to break with the fitness giant.

Glassman's resignation came officially on Tuesday.

"I'm stepping down as CEO of CrossFit, Inc., and I have decided to retire. On Saturday I created a rift in the CrossFit community and unintentionally hurt many of its members."

"Since I founded CrossFit 20 years ago, it has become the world's largest network of gyms. All are aligned in offering an elegant solution to the vexing problem of chronic disease."

"Creating CrossFit and supporting its affiliates and legions of professional trainers has been a labor of love."

"Those who know me know that my sole issue is the chronic disease epidemic. I know that CrossFit is the solution to this epidemic and that CrossFit HQ and its staff serve as the stewards of CrossFit affiliates worldwide."

"I cannot let my behavior stand in the way of HQ's or affiliates' missions. They are too important to jeopardize."

Dave Castro, director of the CrossFit Games and co-director of training, will be taking over as CEO.

Many people noted that even without being CEO, Glassman will still be profiting from the company he owns.

As over 1,000 affiliates and brands have broken from the fitness giant, Castro will have his work cut out for him.