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| Peloton exercise bike ad mocked as being 'sexist' and 'dystopian' | Peloton exercise bike ad mocked as being 'sexist' and 'dystopian' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Christmas advert from exercise bike company Peloton has been widely mocked on social media as being "sexist", "out of touch", and even "dystopian". | A Christmas advert from exercise bike company Peloton has been widely mocked on social media as being "sexist", "out of touch", and even "dystopian". |
| The ad, which has been viewed more than a million times on YouTube, sees a woman receive an exercise bike for Christmas from her husband. | The ad, which has been viewed more than a million times on YouTube, sees a woman receive an exercise bike for Christmas from her husband. |
| She then records her workouts over the following year in a vlog and presents it to him as a way of saying thank you. | She then records her workouts over the following year in a vlog and presents it to him as a way of saying thank you. |
| "A year ago, I didn't realise how much this would change me," she says. | "A year ago, I didn't realise how much this would change me," she says. |
| Criticism of it has been so viral it infected the company's shares, which closed more than 9% lower on Tuesday. | Criticism of it has been so viral it infected the company's shares, which closed more than 9% lower on Tuesday. |
| Peloton was not immediately available to comment after being contacted by the BBC. | Peloton was not immediately available to comment after being contacted by the BBC. |
| Peloton sells fitness equipment - with bikes priced at more than $2,000 - fitted with touchscreens. Users then purchase a subscription to access classes streamed live and on-demand. | Peloton sells fitness equipment - with bikes priced at more than $2,000 - fitted with touchscreens. Users then purchase a subscription to access classes streamed live and on-demand. |
| The New York-based company released the ad on 21 November, but criticism on social media has increased markedly in recent days. | The New York-based company released the ad on 21 November, but criticism on social media has increased markedly in recent days. |
| Some people complained it is sexist for a man to give his wife an exercise bike for Christmas, as it suggested he wanted her to lose weight. | Some people complained it is sexist for a man to give his wife an exercise bike for Christmas, as it suggested he wanted her to lose weight. |
| Others noted that - despite claims the bike has "changed" her - the already slim actress who plays the main character looks exactly same. | Others noted that - despite claims the bike has "changed" her - the already slim actress who plays the main character looks exactly same. |
| Some also said the ad had a dystopian vibe and compared it to a horror film. | Some also said the ad had a dystopian vibe and compared it to a horror film. |
| Comedy writer Jess Dweck wrote on Twitter: "The only way to enjoy that Peloton ad is to think of it as the first minute of an episode of Black Mirror." | Comedy writer Jess Dweck wrote on Twitter: "The only way to enjoy that Peloton ad is to think of it as the first minute of an episode of Black Mirror." |
| A Twitter account devoted to Limericks wrote: "The Pelaton [sic] wife/Has a beautiful life/And a general aura of fear." | A Twitter account devoted to Limericks wrote: "The Pelaton [sic] wife/Has a beautiful life/And a general aura of fear." |
| To date, the firm's Twitter account has not weighed in on the debate. But it has turned off comments on the YouTube video of the ad. | To date, the firm's Twitter account has not weighed in on the debate. But it has turned off comments on the YouTube video of the ad. |
| It is not the first time Peloton's appeals to buyers have been spoofed. | It is not the first time Peloton's appeals to buyers have been spoofed. |
| ClueHeywood, a Twitter personality in Arizona, criticised the company earlier this year suggesting the way it staged its adverts was absurd. | |
| "Love putting my Peloton bike in the most striking area of my ultra-modern $3 million house," he wrote. | "Love putting my Peloton bike in the most striking area of my ultra-modern $3 million house," he wrote. |
| He offered his take on the most recent commercial as well, describing it as an account of a "116 lb woman's YEARLONG fitness journey to becoming a 112 lb woman". | He offered his take on the most recent commercial as well, describing it as an account of a "116 lb woman's YEARLONG fitness journey to becoming a 112 lb woman". |