CrossFit's Greg Glassman Steps Down as CEO Amid Controversy

Greg Glassman is stepping down amid controversy.

The CEO of CrossFit will be stepping down, with Dave Castro set to replace him as CEO, Dave confirmed in a call with staff on Tuesday (June 9) that was leaked by Reddit and confirmed by multiple participants on the call.

The news was later confirmed in a statement by Greg: “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,” he said.

“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.”

The move comes after Greg was met with backlash on social media, including stars like SZA, for an insensitive tweet regarding both the pandemic and George Floyd protests, followed by leaked audio from a Zoom call in which he claimed that the company “is not mourning George Floyd.”

The extent to which he will no longer be involved in the company remains unclear.

“One big thing: The details are unclear about the full scope of what Glassman’s involvement with regards to ownership and influence within the company is going forward. If the extent of the change is simply Glassman stepping aside while still maintaining sole ownership of the company, then as the sole owner or even majority owner if he gave up some stake, he would still stand to profit considerably from the company’s future development and legally retain full control of the company at his discretion. It’s unlikely that the move would equate to real change in the eyes of the community, and multiple sources have confirmed as much,” Morning Chalk Up reports.

Find out what he reportedly said during the company Zoom call…