05/12/2008
Bravo's Workout Loses Propel After Dissing Cancer Patient
Workout star Jackie Warner allegedly made some remarks recently on the show about a woman's breasts that outraged fans and now have caused the show's sponsor Gatorade Propel, to pull its advertising. According to fans, Warner had her manager take the fall for the remarks.
Here's the lowdown, via one of the show's former fans: "Brian brought in his client to train. Jackie and her office manager were sitting in the office together and they started making fun on Brian's client's breast for being too hard and too perfect and obviously implants. What Jackie and her office manager didn't know was that the clients boyfriend was standing outside their office and heard the whole thing. He walked into Jackie's office and informs her that his girlfriend is a breast cancer surviver. Jackie in turn has the whole scene edited out for the show, and has her manager take the fall for making the statements. But the next day, Brian comes into Jackie's office and confronts her with her statements (because according to Brian, whom I believe) it was Jackie who made the statements about this clients' breast being too hard. Jackie refused to talk about it. Brian continued and in turn Jackie fired Brian."
Warner has since apologized about what happened on the show, saying "The producers decided (regrettably) to create through editing a very different and what I think a very negative show."
Gatorade has apparently pulled its sponsorship, releasing a statement which reads, in part "We have watched the episode in question, and we too were surprised and saddened to see the conversations unfold between these trainers. Since this episode aired, we have heard from many viewers of The Workout who are also consumers of our product, and we understand and relate to your disappointment in what occurred. We have notified Bravo we no longer wish to be associated with The Workout and will be pulling our commercials. Furthermore, we will not renew our sponsorship of this program in subsequent seasons."
Read the entire statement here.
Watch the clip discussed above, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 10:05 AM EST by Andy Towle in Advertising, Fitness, Jackie Warner, News, Reality TV | Permalink
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Jackie Warner frequently works out at my gym (Equinox West Hollywood). My trainer there told me that he made the mistake of becoming friendly, to the point of saying hello and making brief conversations, with Jackie Warner's girlfriend. According to my trainer, Jackie misinterpreted his friendliness as a desire to sleep with her girlfriend. From that point forward she would refuse to speak to him whenever he said hello to her and would glare at him from across the gym floor. I witnessed the behavior myself. Jackie Warner seems profoundly immature and emotionally unstable to me.
Posted by: peterparker | May 12, 2008 1:05:37 PM
Peeler is hot. I wish he would sit on my face. Can I say that?
Posted by: Olive Yurdich | May 12, 2008 1:23:43 PM
I personally cannot stand Jackie and watch the show for backround noise. Its a dumb show with a few laughs, I record it and watch it while I check my email. Jackie is a stereotypical dyke. She is not a nice person, shes self absorbed and a liar. However, the comment she made, we have all said somthing we shouldn't have she just happens to be on a tv show. She said sorry, but hopefully losing the ad will kick her ego down a tad. And moving in with your much younger girlfriend after one date. WOW! I hope Peeler starts his own gym and knocks SkyLab out of business.
Posted by: Justin | May 12, 2008 3:09:51 PM
Let's not forget context. Sure, we all gossip - but she is a business owner and a boss. Her trainer's clients should feel SAFE to come in with their implants, cellulite, post-surgical bodies and TRAIN without ridicule. If I was Peeler, I would have quit rather than beg to be fired. If ANYONE made my client feel uncomfortable in a gym - they would hear from me. Jackie has once again through this example and her constant groping of female employees that she is clueless and a lawsuit waiting to happen for creating a very dangerous and toxic work environment. Truly the worst boss I've ever seen. She's a fitness expert for God's sake and in LA!! She dares to comment negatively on enhancements? Is she that stupid? I wouldn't set foot near her gym. I will not support her show or buy her products. She's ignorant that a boss is held to a different standard of decorum than an employee. She should have fired Lisa for demeaning a paying client in that gym - not Peeler.
Posted by: Me | May 12, 2008 3:13:44 PM
True it was a mistake that many of us have made before, putting our foot in our mouth. I believe both Jackie and the manager should have apologized to Brian and his client because after all it is the right thing to do.I also did not hear Jackie correcting her manager at the time of the conversation on her unprofessional behavior or we could even call it disrespecful, but Oh wait a minute that is what Brian got fired for not the manager. Jackie is supposed to be a leader in the show and should act as one at all times and she showed once again to not have the leader qualities in a professional setting. Bravo, move on found something else.
Posted by: Rho | May 12, 2008 3:16:14 PM
Jackie's a bitch. 'Nuff said.
And LOL @ Olive's comment.
Posted by: ms catsuit and heels | May 12, 2008 3:16:26 PM
And I'm sure if Peeler has any common sense, he will be quick to sue her over these actions. In the state of California, you better be careful about how and when you fire someone....Jackie better watch her back. She may have sky sports lab now, but for how long???
Posted by: kmslat | May 12, 2008 3:17:14 PM
Someone needs to give Brian his own show. He's a character who stood out and they could really milk the competition angle. And I don't doubt that if he was given the funding for his own gym that many of the cast from Jackie's show would deflect. Girls joke about that stuff all the time, unfortunately. But I think the way it was handled, the editing and bad acting and Jackie's obviously not wanting to talk about it on camera, speaks to her true character. Her manager's apology was over the top and obviously insincere, and it's clear she's overcompensating for Jackie's to cover for Jackie not taking any responsibility. And her lying is what makes this situation so heinous. By denying culpability she's basically spitting in the clients face. I won't watch her show. There's enough deceitfulness in the real road. But I will watch Brian's show (and trust me, there will be one) if just to spite the woman.
Posted by: Leia | May 12, 2008 3:22:52 PM
Uhm she didn't know that the woman had cancer! I don't even like Jackie but How do you guys know that the last time you made fun of someone they weren't sick at the time. How do you know where or not you yelled at someone for cutting you off on the freeway and that person was in a rush because someone they loved had died. Those in glass houses....
Posted by: MickeyD | May 12, 2008 3:28:28 PM
Jackie and this show should be cancelled for this. She's a disgrace and doesn't have an ounce of professionalism in her. Perhaps Bravo should do a "very special episode" where Jackie must do a breast cancer PSA or work with cancer patients as a way to further exploit this incident for tv--jeez someone should hire me to work as writer on this horrible show.
Posted by: DWM | May 12, 2008 3:35:26 PM
I saw the episode and I thought it was the office manager who said it, but maybe it was the editing. Anyway Jackie had it out for the other trainer anyway, I don't think he deserved the shit from her. She was the one who couldn't handle it. Fuck that show.
Posted by: R Muncher | May 12, 2008 3:35:55 PM
Oh and Jackie fucks her employees (literally and figuratively) , if she was a guy she would be sued out of existence.
Posted by: Dich Lees | May 12, 2008 3:39:37 PM
I think people are outraged over 2 things. 1. Jackie has owned no responsibility in the situation, she's shown no remorse, except that she got caught. (The office manager says she said it, but I think Jackie convinced her to take the fall, since other's report otherwise. The episode does not show the comments, only the aftermath.)
2. Generally, she's been a heinous egomanical dictator all season. Fame has gone to her head and she's become a monster.
The fact that the person had cancer really is just the cherry on the sundae. In truth a GYM OWNER has NO place ridiculing the appearance of people who frequent their gym (or allowing it in their presence). It's immature, unprofessional and just serves to underscore people's fear that if they're not in perfect shape they should stay out of the gym.
Posted by: clarknt67 | May 12, 2008 3:52:07 PM
You know, the whole shirt thing should have NEVER been done in front of the client; that right there is poor management on Jackie's part.
Second, Jackie is a bitch, but I think it's funny how you can't make fun of breasts BEFORE knowing something was caused by cancer. Nobody is really to blame here since they did NOT make fun of cancer before knowing IT was the cause.
Third, she was right to fire Brian and he was right to stand up to her. But, who wins now? Yeah, Jackie.
Posted by: Drew | May 12, 2008 3:53:40 PM
Drew: Personally, I'd say Brian wins, he no longer has to work for an insane maniac who is so full of herself she can ridicule her own clients, get called on it and still think SHE'S the victim.
Posted by: clarknt67 | May 12, 2008 4:03:25 PM
I'm not a big fan of the show, but I have seen it on occasion. I saw the episode in question, and I was really disturbed and appalled by Jackie's behavior.
It doesn't matter whether or not she knew about the client's cancer history or not. She is a business owner, and that client is putting money in HER pocket, and she has the gall to insult her behind her back?
And then, when Brian wanted to discuss her inexcusable, unprofessional comments, she tells him "I will not discuss this with you, and if you say another word about it I will fire you". What a nasty, vicious cunt. If Bravo had an ounce of integrity, they'd cancel that show. Or better yet, fire Jackie Warner from the show and find another, more deserving business owner to showcase.
Posted by: E-Z | May 12, 2008 4:03:43 PM
ok you are all so perfect its amazing, i find it really REALLY laughable that you guys act like you havent made fun of someone before, get a grip, and EVERYONE makes fun of girls with huge implants, if you think you dont your full of shit, now yes she was a cancer survivor, but i think we better get used to the fact that EVERYONE will have cancer touch their lives, and cancer isnt an excuse to get massive tits....now that being said i havent seen this show at all, but i find all trainers to be in your face and self centered, you have to be to do devote that type of time to your physical appearance....and lets not forget to mention that ALL reality television is truely trashy, and making fun of someones implants is like the tip of the iceberg, LOOK at the shit said about gay people on big brother, and you dont see sponserships being pulled( or if you do i havent heard about it) i get that she is the boss and should act a certain way, but have ANY Of you had a good boss? i havent and i think good bosses are a true rarity, so if you have one YOUR LUCKY!!!
Posted by: Trevor | May 12, 2008 4:07:03 PM
Trevor, did you read ANY of the comments? Most everyone concedes they have on occaision made a catty remark about another person's appearance.
It's Jackie's awful handling of the situation, denying that she is in any way culpable for her own or the manager's remarks, then FIRING Brian for standing up for his own client that seems to bother people.
I'm sure not much would have become of it had Jackie had the humility to bring Brian & his client into her office and say, "We made remarks that were unprofessional and immature, and this is not the standard that I want set for this gym and I am very sorry."
Posted by: clarknt67 | May 12, 2008 4:15:42 PM
All the editing in the world can't hide the fact that she's just a horrible human being, regardless of her gender or her sexuality! I tried to sit through her show, but her hypocrisy & horrible business manners are dispicable. The BBB should shut her down & make her work at a generic gym & see how the real world is!
Posted by: Jon A. Leslie | May 12, 2008 4:22:26 PM
Like I said on the board at Queerty, I’m VERY surprised that everyone is so quick to judge Jackie. If you want to look at society look towards yourselves. You are so quick to judge someone for making one quick (and poorly chosen) comment when this woman has so many positive impacts on peoples’ lives every day. But we are so fast to crucify someone and cast stones as if none of us have ever said something off the cuff that we wish we could have taken back. Cut Jackie a bit of slack on this one…
Also, the reason why she chose to fire Peeler had nothing to do with her comment, it had to do with his constant disrespect and as the owner of the club I would have fired his ass a long time ago. Jackie blogged last week and said that she wanted him gone a long time ago but the producers wanted him as part of the show so she couldn’t. And why is it that no one said a word about him mentioning that he was “this close” to punching Jackie?? Now that is something you should be offended by!
Posted by: Liam | May 12, 2008 4:24:20 PM
I don't believe Jackie.
She totally handled it wrong.
She seems really bitchy. I'm done w/ that show
Posted by: Stephen | May 12, 2008 4:27:12 PM
You're going down Jackie!
Maybe this will be the hardest lesson best learned!
Posted by: eddy | May 12, 2008 4:30:01 PM
I've been watching all season & I'm not quick to crucify her over these comments at all. I've found her behavior disgusting all season.
She called the one Skylab client into her office & chewed her out for being late, but did NOTHING to Greg her trainer for showing up 10 minutes late for HIS client. Then dismisses that client's complaints about Greg without speaking to the client directly? It's good to have your employee's back, but jeez, hear the client out.
She walks into Jessie's dinner party an hour late and makes out with her GF in front of her ex-Rebecca, like she's a 12 year old?
Just ew...
Posted by: clarknt67 | May 12, 2008 4:33:32 PM
Jackie Warner is a blight on the ass of lesbians everywhere...and I'm ashamed to call her a member of my tribe.
The way she paws all over her employees is gross. I'd be dragging her ass right into court.
I really hope Bravo drops this show once and for all.
Posted by: Kats | May 12, 2008 4:55:42 PM
I do think if Jackie were a straight man, and leached all over his female employees the way Jackie does, people would be up in arms & lawsuits would be flying fast & furiously.
Posted by: clarknt67 | May 12, 2008 5:08:25 PM