- There is no backstory, it's an ad!
- I feel uncomfortable reading and watching some of these.
- Yeah!
- (woman) To new beginnings!
- I wanna see if she still has her wedding ring on?
♪ (rock intro) ♪
- (man) Okay, ready? - (woman) Yes!
- (man) Now!
- (woman) A Peloton? - The Peloton!
- I knew it, yeah.
- (woman) First ride, I'm a little nervous, but excited.
Let's do this! - So stupid.
- (woman) Are you surprised? I am!
- That's cool, like that's cool that she's like enjoying it.
I feel like it's always so like iffy,
to get like an exercise gift.
If they ask for it, then I feel like,
yeah, for sure, go for it!
- (woman) Let's do this. Five days in a row.
Are you surprised? I am.
6 AM, yay.
- (instructor) Rising with the sun.
- Rising with the sun! Setting with the sun!
- (woman) She just said my name!
A year ago, I didn't realize how much this would change me.
- ♪ High above me ♪ - (woman) Thank you.
- (announcer) This holiday, give the gift of Peloton.
- So extra. (laughs)
Are you, I didn't know how much this would change me.
Thank you. Oh my gosh, sorry that's extra.
- (woman) Thank you. - (announcer) This holiday,
give the gift of Peloton. - What change?
The impossible struggle of a woman going from 116 to 114.
(laughs) - Exactly!
- That seems so life changing for her.
Like exercise. - Day 24!
- (FBE) So we have more to show you in a bit,
but that was an ad for the smart exercise bike
from a company known as Peloton.
What did you think about the commercial you just watched?
- I mean, I thought, I think it's a cool bike,
'cause like, it's like a personal trainer
you have at home.
- I kinda of biased, because I, going to school for all of this,
and exercise and stuff,
I kinda get what the commercial's saying,
like exercise really can change someone's life,
and for the better.
- I thought it was not for real for a second.
Like it doesn't make me wanna go out and buy this bike thing.
'Cause she looks miserable.
- She definitely looks like it's painful,
and she didn't want that, and now she's stuck doing this,
and she has to video tape it to like prove she did it or something.
- I know that there's some controvery
of like oh, the guy gave his wife,
hey, if you wanna stick with me, give that.
I didn't see that at all. - Mm-mm.
- If I got one of those, I'd be like "oh sweet, thank you!"
- (FBE) The ad has sparked some criticism for various reasons.
Many people are calling the ad sexist.
- Okay.
- (FBE) With many taking offense to the fact that the husband
gifted an exercise bike to a woman
that is seemingly, you know, healthy.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- (FBE) Others claim that the ad has also undertones of classism,
due to the bike's retail price starting at $2,245.
- Are you kidding me? - Pocket change! (laughs)
- (FBE) So for this episode, we brought in only our couples
to react to the backlash,
and to hear your take on the discussion.
- I'm intrigued to hear what...
- I think exercise is, it has no price to it.
I see exercise as something like, you know.
- Like an investment in yourself. - Yeah, it is an investment.
- (FBE) Here's some of the reaction online from both sides,
along with the memes this ad has inspired.
- Reaction, you say?
- When my husband gets me a Peloton for Christmas.
- (woman) (gasps) A Peloton? My husband got me a Peloton
for Christmas, nothing weird... (Tom laughs)
- (woman) Thank you, you get me. (Ashby laughs)
- (woman) I'm a little bit nervous and rightly so,
because my husband got me a [bleep] workout bike
for Christmas, and that's rude. (Brittany laughs)
- (woman) I'm a little bit nervous and rightly so,
because my husband got me a [bleep] workout bike
for Christmas, and that's rude. - (laughs) It's so true!
- (woman) Six days in a row. Are you surprised?
I am, that my marriage is still intact.
- Oh [bleep]. (laughs)
- (woman) 6 AM, my husband is sleeping soundly next to me,
but I couldn't sleep a wink, because what kind of sociopath
gets his wife a [bleep] stationary bike!
(Ashby laughs) What are you trying to say?
A year ago, I didn't realize how much this would change me.
Babe, I want a divorce.
- Oh [bleep]. - That's, single.
- I'm single now. (laughs)
- She's saying everything that I'm thinking about,
which I absolutely love.
- It's so cringy, that's it's very meme-able,
is that a word? - Mm-hmm.
- So the memes will be made.
- I don't know why that's a big deal.
- I don't either, I don't think it's a bad thing
that he got it for her.
- I know so many people who would love that as a gift.
- Yeah! - I would love that as a gift.
- Yep.
- That face you make when you have to video tape yourself
exercising to prove to your husband that you're making
every effort to check notes, look thin for him, Peloton.
Oh, she looks great, she doesn't need that.
- Send help in her eyes.
- She did look like she was held against her will.
(laughs) A little bit. - Yeah.
- She's like "alright, first day, I'm a little nervous!"
- Oh my God!
- I feel uncomfortable reading and watching some of these.
- Yeah!
- What's sad is like, this text for this meme,
just fits, it's not like it's like, oh, let me make this funny.
No, this is the truth of the video. - Yeah, it's just an explanation.
- Right! (laughs)
- Why are some people making such a fuss
over the Peloton commercial?
So a man is giving his wife a fitness bike for Christmas.
Is it insulting, WTF, I'd be happy as hell if I got one.
100!
When I first saw it, I only saw a woman
being gifted something great for Christmas, #pelotonad!
There's definitely two sides of every coin, you know?
I think it's kind of a stupid, cringy commercial.
Also, there's no lore in a commercial,
so why are we reading this much into it?
- I don't see all the fuss about it, I just think people are getting hot
over something that, they just want, again,
want to spark something and get everyone on that bandwagon.
- That's the thing, you have to be grateful.
Like what are you gonna do, be like, upset, like no.
It's like if I got you razors or something.
Or like a comb, or shampoo and conditioner for Christmas.
Like would you be insulted by that?
No, but I'd probably get the idea that you want me to do my hair.
- So do you see what they mean? - I see what they mean.
But I think that's, those are two different things.
I think it's almost like weight and stuff,
I'm assuming a lot of people are getting into.
- Well I feel like... - It's a little more sensitive topic
than like hair.
- The debate over the Peloton commercial is asinine.
Has is ever occurred to anyone that sometime women
actually want a piece of exercise equipment?
- Yeah. - And that maybe she asked
for it for Christmas? Oh yeah, there's no backstory,
because it's a flipping ad, and you people are morons.
Attagirl, Jessica! - Yeah, exactly.
- Attagirl!
Perhaps maybe they need someone a little bit better of a writer,
because she could have gone down and said
"a Peloton, it's just what I wanted!"
- Exactly! - Problem solved.
- Yeah. - There is no backstory!
It's an ad!
No one writes a commercial like, "aw man, hold on.
What's my motivation, what's..."
No one cares, it's an ad! You're selling product!
- Wow! (Mary laughs)
Excuse me, Jessica Chasmar.
- It takes like a millisecond to say "I wanted this!"
or "I'm so excited, I finally got this!" (laughs)
- Holy. (laughs)
- Oh my God, I just got it. (laughs)
- I knew I'd seen the Peloton face before.
- That is so true! - Yeah.
- (laughs) I knew it, see? The send help eyes.
- Get out of here! - Yep, then there it is.
- There's a very help me, I'm scared.
- It's actually kinda funny how similar they look in this picture.
- Yeah. (laughs) - I want the Peloton ad
where someone piles clothes on it for a year and takes pictures
of the pile's growth and feels just fine about it.
(laughs) My brother, a couple Christmases ago
got an exercise bike for himself, and man it does hold a lot of laundry.
(both laugh)
- If that ain't me.
Ask me how long it's been since I've done laundry.
- Oh wow. - It's been two months.
- The thing I like about the internet specifically,
is most people that get offended, there's the other half of people
that'll have humor in it. - Mm-hmm.
- That they're fighting.
So right now people are hating on it, then there's the other half
that's like let's make some fun out of this.
- (FBE) So Peloton has released a statement regarding the backlash.
- (laughs) Oh God! - That we have for you here.
So we're gonna have you read it out loud.
- Let's go. Oh damn.
- We constantly hear from our members how their lives have been
meaningfully and positively impacted after a purchase.
I'm sorry, I'm laughing already,
and I'm not even through the first sentence.
- Meaningfully and positively impacted after purchasing
or being gifted a Peloton bike or treadmill,
often in ways that surprise them.
Our holiday spot was created
to celebrate that fitness and wellness journey.
- While we're disappointed in how
some have misinterpreted this commercial,
we are encouraged by and grateful for
the outpouring of support we've recieved
from those who understand what we're trying to communicate.
#Peloton, yo!
It's so stupid. I love when a company issues
a response of being like "yeah, sorry, you guys got offended."
- Yeah, that's true. - You're taking it wrong.
It's not that, you're wrong. You're interpreting it wrong.
- They should've just put out a statement like this.
Which is kinda what they did, a little bit.
It's a very corporate, shut the [bleep] up.
- They're just trying to get people to work, exercise.
- (laughs) Like... - There's nothing wrong with it.
- They made a bike, and they made a commercial for it.
Like that's all this is. And everyone,
we're all being friggin' extra ass people,
who are like "that's rude!"
- (FBE) So even actor Ryan Reynolds got in on the controversy.
- Oh my gosh.
- (FBE) So he casted the actress that played the wife
in the Peloton ad in a commercial for his gin.
- It's great.
- (both) Exercise bike not included. - Aviation Gin.
- (woman) This gin is really smooth. - (both) Yeah!
(Ashby laughs)
- (woman) We can get you another one if you'd like.
- (woman) You're safe here.
(Tom laughs)
- (woman) To new beginnings.
- I wanna see if she still has her wedding ring on.
That's what I'm waiting for.
- Yes! (laughs) That's my girl.
- (woman) It's gonna be a fun night.
Yeah, take this too. - (woman) Aw, really?
- She doesn't have the ring on.
- (woman) You look great, by the way. - Oh my God.
- That's funny, that last part. - Oh my God, that was good.
That was a good. "By the way, you look great!"
- Yeah. - Absolutely perfect.
- Yeah, that is perfect. (laughs) - Ryan Reynolds, way to go.
Ugh, that was so good.
- Controversy gets eyes on products.
It still gets people talking. Everyone's stock goes up,
and then we drink gin at the end of the day.
That's America. (Jimena laughs)
- (FBE) So we're curious to know if either of you
gifted an exercise bike to one another,
would you find that offensive?
- No, I wouldn't be offended. I like working out.
- Yes. (laughs)
You know I don't like doing any of this,
so why did you get it? Unless I asked for it.
- I don't think I would, but that's only because
like, we have, there's conversations that I've had about,
like, oh, I need to work out more. - That's true.
- My first initial thought process would be what the [bleep]?
Like, why? - Mm-hmm.
- 'Cause like, he knows me pretty well,
so he'd, just getting a random bike, I'd just be like,
this isn't anything that I would want.
- (FBE) And do either of you personally think this ad
deserves the backlash it has recieved?
- I think it's a little bit of both.
I think it's really not that big of deal.
I think it's a commercial, and just because
it's a little tone def, doesn't mean...
- Yeah. - ...everyone needs to hop on
and hate it, there's been so many [bleep] commercials,
and why this one? - Yeah.
- Why the exercise bike?
- Yeah, I think so. - I think so.
They could've done, like we said, some slight changes
just to make it a better message, and it would've been fine.
- (FBE) When the ad started to go viral,
some users online were urging
consumers to no longer buy those products,
deeming the Peloton brand as like cancelled.
- Oh God.
- (FBE) Cancelling seems to be something that happens
often on social media now,
when a brand or a person does something that
is perceived to be wrong. - Mm-hmm.
- (FBE) This cancel culture can sometimes create
like an online mob mentality, and in this case,
has led to harsh criticism for even the actors,
both the husband and the wife, in the ad.
The actor who played the husband has told reporters
that he has been flooded with hate mail.
- Oh my God!
- (FBE) Social media, everywhere. - That's crazy.
- (FBE) And he is concerned that his participation in this
will hinder future acting gigs. - I could see that.
- Imagine getting cancelled 'cause you're in an ad.
And you're a struggling actor just trying to get work,
and you get cast in your first national commercial,
and then everyone's like "no, [bleep] Jim, he sucks!
Don't cast him, he's blacklisted!"
- (FBE) Do you think this type of culture
is largely like for the best,
because it does hold people accountable,
or do you think it's kind of hurting society as a whole?
- I think that's so stupid. - Yeah.
- I think the actors are the last people
who should, they're actors! So like are you gonna...
The people who you watch on TV who are acting and kill somebody,
are you gonna be like "why did you kill that person?"
- I hate cancel culture. I think it's the dumbest thing.
Everyone makes mistakes.
Just if they make one mistake, and we're like no, you're out.
- Yeah, you're out. - You're done for the rest of it.
- That's not fair at all. - It's not fair!
- It's really kind of a case by case thing, you know?
If you've got someone who is coming out in blackface,
then yeah, I think it's great.
- I feel like it should stop at a certain point,
like yes, get it out there, let's share our feelings.
I think it gets a little scary when you start to
"everybody follow me!" and you light the torch.
- Yeah. - And you're like
"let's all not buy this product!" And it's like, "yeah, I'm not buying this"
and everybody just jumps in, and then there's people
that are jumping in, they're like "I don't even know what I'm doing here
but I'm not buying a Peloton." (Mary laughs)
Like, it just becomes this ridiculous mob.
- It's definitely both.
I mean, it's good that we are now being aware,
and we're holding people accountable for their actions,
and, but, the whole cancelling, cancel is over party shit on Twitter
and stuff like that, I think you guys are just
pushing it too far, and you're ruining a man's career
because of a job that he was paid to do.
That's his job, he's an actor. It's not like he's actually sexist.
- Yeah, what sucked too, is probably like when he got hired,
you know, like hey man, you're just gonna like
sit on the couch, you bought this girl a bike,
that's it!
- (FBE) So finally, after learning a little more about
the Peloton scandal... - (laughs) Scandal!
- (FBE) What advice would you give to those couples at home
thinking about gifting this, or any other exercise equipment
to their significant other. - Talk about it first.
Unless they initiate it, don't do it.
- Yeah, there's like so many other nice gifts that you could do.
- (laughs) What would you want instead of the exercise bike?
So now I have to return it.
- Maybe talk to your partner about it, unless you want it to be a surprise.
But you should know your significant other well enough
to know if they want it or not. - Mm-hmm.
- I know that we want to surprise our significant others, right?
Like, oh, I got this awesome gift
that I think you're gonna absolutely love.
Maybe you haven't mentioned it before, but I just know you so well
that I'm gonna buy you this thing.
It can work, but maybe like check with your friends or something?
- Yeah! - Guarantee you,
all of them would've said "don't do it!"
- Yeah. - "Do not, she's, no!"
Like, that's awful, or like tell you flat out, like "you're a jerk,"
Like, "why would you get this for her?"
- Thanks for watching this episode of Couples React.
- Shout out to Skylar Westman.
- Subscribe and hit the bell! - So you don't miss an episode!
- Would you give to your significant other a Peloton bike?
- Let us know in the comments.
- (both) Thanks for watching! Bye!
- Hi guys, JC here, producer at FBE.
Make sure to check out all our other episodes
across all generations, all the links are gonna be down below.
Check 'em out! Bye guys!