Florida man, Mike Amoroso, asked to leave Planet Fitness over his pro-life shirt
A man in Florida was asked to leave a Planet Fitness gym on two separate occasions because other gym patrons found his pro-life t-shirts offensive.
Mike Amoroso’s first shirt read, “Abortion kills a person.” When a worker at the establishment asked him to change his shirt or leave, Amoroso complied. He came back the next day wearing a shirt with a softer pro-life message: “Pray to end abortion.” Again, Amoroso was told his shirt was offensive.
Image Courtesy: Flickr/sabianmaggy
Amoroso said, “She told me, ‘I am very sorry. We have someone who is not happy with your shirt. Someone is offended by your shirt.’ I said, ‘You know, I wear them all the time.’ She said, ‘You’ll have to leave,’ and I left.”
Planet Fitness said that all of its gyms are independently owned and it would not claim responsibility for the incident which Amoroso says is in violation of Freedom of Speech.
“At Planet Fitness, we are committed to providing a comfortable and welcoming environment for everyone. The majority of Planet Fitness clubs, including this location in Orange City, FL, are owned and operated by individual franchisees. The dress code policy is enforced at the discretion of club staff and the local franchisee,” the company said in a statement.
Amoroso spoke with Orlando’s WFTV about the incident. “Do you understand why people are offended?” asked reporter Shannon Butler.
“Yes. Yes, I do,” Amoroso said.
“This doesn’t deter you even though people are offended from wearing these?” Butler asked.
“No, I might wear them more,” Amoroso said.
[…] Planet Fitness also released a statement to address the situation. Since all of the locations are independently owned, the franchise refuses to take responsibility for the local facility’s decision to ask Amoroso to leave, reports The Global Dispatch. […]