CrossFit Fired Its Spokesman – Russell Berger for Saying LGBT is a “Sin”

A top ranking CrossFit Spokesman, Russell Berger get fired after tweeting his support for the cancellation of pride event at CrossFit gym. In tweet, he is citing his thought that celebrating LGBT pride is a “sin”.

Russell Berger was a chief acknowledge officer at CrossFit, mega-successful fitness company. He is both spokesperson and co-author of Russells, a blog on scientific misconduct that he mostly maintained with his colleague Russell Greene.

However, Berger get into trouble on Wednesday after tweeting about the CrossFit gym in an Indianapolis.

Owners of Indiana canceled the workout in honor of pride that month. Hence, many of the employees and coaches quit the protest, according to the WTTV TV in Indiana.

Russell Berger tweeted,

Looks like @CrossFit's @BergerRussell deleted that tweet so here's a screenshot icymi pic.twitter.com/1I2sya7ACO

— Chris Stedman (@ChrisDStedman) June 6, 2018

He further wrote that, “LGBTQ ideology is intolerable toward any alternative thoughts is mind-blowing.” Russell added that the tactics of anyone in LGBTQ movement is dissent and existential threat to the freedom of an expression.”

Before, Berger was working for an unpaid leave for his absence. However later on, the company announced on twitter that they had fired him.

They tweeted regarding his termination, “the statement made today by Russell Burger don’t reflect the views of CrossFit, and for this reason CrossFit has terminated his employment.”

In response of aforementioned tweet, Berger wrote,

“Thankfully he had worked for such company that tolerates disagreement. He has homosexual coworkers whom he love and respect, and so far he was aware about being punished for his views.”

Hey @BergerRussell why did you delete your bigotry tweet toward the LGBTQ community? I’m ashamed to own an affiliate right now because of you, you disgusting piece of trash. pic.twitter.com/zVFXDi9waI

— krissy🏔 (@krissyclimbs) June 6, 2018

However, after tweeting he has deleted all those tweets when people at CrossFit Community and others condemned his views as well as they called to fired him.

Later conservative commentator Erick Erickson try to defend Berger and has personally supported him.

Before Berger was called for leave, CrossFit CEO and founder Gerg Glassman had responded to the BuzzFeed News that he didn’t withstand by Russell thoughts which he used to called appalling.

Moreover, official twitter account of CrossFit also quoted, “he is crazy proud of the gay community in CrossFit.”

Glassman said in the interview, Russell Berger needs a large dose of shut the fuck up and to hide out somewhere for a while. It’s really sad.

He further added, we don’t do god work with pure hearts. So, to have some Zealot in off-time to do something is stupid. That’s why we are all upset. Actually now only we but whole company is upset. And such changes are standing with us. How its look like he don’t know, it’s unfortunate.

However the trainer, Berger has opened up CrossFit affiliate so early. Although he holds an “orthodox, historic Christian beliefs was a pastor at a church he has mentioned to Buzzfeed News.

His anger about the Indiana situation arose after going through the news about it.  Russell said, he has no qualms with the gym owner for expressing his personal opinion, he has also no qualms with coaches and customers for leaving as they have completely different opinion.

However, he has qualms with the huge response of people who has convicted without having direct relationship in this business with the affiliate. So, engaged in social media, organized public destruction and reputation forced him to shut down the doors. Thus, he think that an experience of intolerance not able to get disagree with someone and indulged in meaningful discourse.

Russell says, he rarely tweet regarding CrossFit either as an employee or as a public representative of the CrossFit. On religious issues also he often tweet as social media user and pastor of church.

Therefore Russell Berger tweeted, “he haven’t stated before on any social media.”

But the two subjects didn’t contradict each other what he had tweeted about LGBT and he said now. Hence, it become difficult to discern between the personal opinion and as voice of CrossFit, he said.

Russell Berger said that he would anticipated his comments and perhaps explain on behalf of CrossFit. Finally, he has realized that it was too late to regret about it.

Despite of the above fact he added, he stands by his previous sentiment, “his actual point he was making but he still affirm it.