https://www.instagram.com/p/Be1QK0TDgIW/
Rapper Jim Jones says his request to charge his phone led to a racial profiling incident at a Los Angeles LA Fitness. The “Love and Hip Hop” alum detailed his gym encounter in an Instagram video, which was complete with a lengthy caption.
“I’m in LA Fitness and I tried to get a charger [plugged into one of the computers] and they tried to kick me out and terminate me,” he says in the clip posted Monday, Feb. 5. “The lady lied on me…she said that I gave her the middle finger…and then she tried to tell me that I’m getting terminated for me asking for a charger in LA Fitness.
“I have yet said anything to anyone,” the four-year-long gym member continues as the personnel hides their faces. “I haven’t raised my voice to anyone. I haven’t did anything to anyone. So now I feel like I’m being profiled.”
At this point, one of the workers chimes in to say, “So now you’re the victim?”
Jones hits back with an affirmative and gives the man a chance to speak his mind, but he remains silent.
“This is LA Fitness,” the rapper concludes in the video. “Profiling at its best.”
He added in the caption that the manager approached to discuss the matter but Jones refused, telling the supervisor “he [needs] to talk to his employees about how they treat customers that just want to charge they phone.”
“Moral of the story is I did not make u work at LA Fitness u chose that urself so the least U could do is be helpful and courteous to all ur customers no matter color, race, what clothes [they’re] wearing, [whether] u like rap or country music,” he said. “It’s the gym we just lifting weights it’s no science class and it’s not Fort Knox. It’s the gym, a place people go to get in tune with [their] mind body and soul with no interruptions — especially not from the staff they suppose to be as helpful as possible as people try to better [their] health.”
While it’s not clear if that exact LA Fitness location (which one it is isn’t apparent) has responded or what Jones’ next steps are, he’s won lots of support from his followers.
“Very unprofessional of the staff!!!” someone commented. “WOW this is how customers get treated just for asking for a charger??? SMH.”
“Proud of you, could have slapped that dude, you chose not to,” another said.
Another vowed not to go back to the gym.
“Oh yeah f— them, they won’t get my cash @lafitness.”
