By Nayaba Arinde

Editor-at-Large

All MTA worker Tanya Ridley wanted to do was exercise quietly in her local Bed Stuy gym. It was part of her fitness and self-care regime. But then came a senior white member, who she said prepositioned her.

She told Our Time Press that she felt violated, but staff seemingly dismissed her concerns.

“When I first reported this man in the early fall last year, the gym was still Blink Fitness. I was working out, he said he wanted to take pictures and videos to send to his friends in Russia, so they can see how American women work out in the gym. I was stunned. I told him ‘No.’ I went to the manager who told me that I wasn’t the first woman to complain about him, and they were going to keep an eye on him.”

Ridley said the alleged harassment occurred again with the same individual, at what was now PureGym, 1413 Fulton Street, during the first week of Women’s History Month.

“I was on a machine, he walked over to me as if we were cool, and stood in front of me, blocking me,” she told Our Time Press. “When I was screaming for my life for him to go away he said ‘What’s wrong with you?’ So, I’m being treated like the crazy Black lady. Everybody froze. He just stood there. He didn’t move, and the manager came out to me, and instead of trying to protect me, she was annoyed by me, and wanted me to shut up. She was angry, and the man just started working out again. I started to record. She asked me if I wanted to file a complaint and call the cops. I said yes, and I did. They came, and he is still working out like it is no big deal to him. The police took my statement, and said maybe I should consider going to another gym.”

Ridley said PureGym staff belittled her concerns, as the accused harasser “moseyed on over to the police when he decided to, and had a jolly conversation, as they were laughing, and then he went back to working out. They told me the lie that they could not remove him from the gym. I have seen police remove Black people from their homes.”

The NYPD did not respond to an Our Time Press inquiry by press time.

When this reporter went to the Fulton Street location this Tuesday morning, staff refused to answer any questions stating that, “The manager is not here yet.”

A current Local 100 member, and MTA conductor, Ridley was a former Local 46 ironworker who said she helped to build the fourth tower at the World Trade Center location. Yet, she said that she is nervous to go back to workout at her local gym.

On March 7, Ridley posted an Instagram video, which has garnered 69,000 views, 375 reposts, and 2,593 shares. In a corner of the gym, she declared, “I am at PureGym in Brooklyn, this man in the grey is a predator. Here is a man who walks up to Black women and asks them if he can record them, and send them to his friends in Russia. I have dialled 911, and reported him to the authorities. They are reasoning with this man. This man is crazy, he’s a creep.”

Responding to an Our Time Press inquiry, a UK-based PureGym media representative called to ask about the story, responding in an email; “We work hard to ensure that our members feel safe at PureGym and do not tolerate any form of harassment…We are aware of allegations made against a member at PureGym Bed-Stuy. A thorough investigation has been undertaken, including a review of all available evidence, and the appropriate action has been taken. Throughout these events our team have followed our processes, offered support to the member reporting these matters and have reached out to her in an attempt to discuss the findings.”

Ridley said that she had received a few emails, and one phone call from a blocked number, “They have treated me like I was the problem. Instead of taking real action, they gave him a verbal warning.”

UK-based PureGym bought Blink Fitness for $121 million. They plan to expand their U.S footprint, with about 67 locations in New York and New Jersey.

“PureGym goes against everything that we value as a community in Bed Stuy. Here you have a

franchise owned by a hedge fund, swallowing up our community gyms, tearing away the staff

and creating an environment that is dystopian and downright dangerous,” said Marlon Rice, longtime community advocate. “Ms. Ridley is a longstanding member of this community. Her rights were violated in this establishment. There has been no communication by upper management, and in the meantime it has been weeks since Ms. Ridley has felt comfortable enough to return to the gym to work out.”

“No one should have to report harassment more than once to be taken seriously,” Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman told Our Time Press. “The concerns raised in this incident — particularly the lack of response after the initial complaint — are deeply troubling and point to a clear breakdown in accountability.

Every business in our community has a responsibility to ensure a safe environment, respond promptly, and involve the appropriate authorities when necessary. Inaction is not an option — it puts people at risk and undermines public trust.”

PureGym reps told Our Times Press, “The appropriate action has been taken in line with our Harassment and Inappropriate Behaviour Policy.”

Zinerman stated that, “Far too often, women — especially women of color — are dismissed when they come forward. That must change. I am calling on all establishments to review their policies, properly train staff, and take every report seriously.”

Marlon Rice continued, “We have to be more critical of corporations that look to set up shop in our village. The protection of our women, of our elders, of our children – these things are non-negotiables. Puregym has shown that it is incapable of protecting the women in my community, and so this hedgefund-ran establishment has no place in my community.”

“The only way to stop this kind of behavior, discrimination and harassment is by shining a light on it. It is clear Pure Gym is neither equipped nor concerned enough to provide a safe environment where members do not feel harassed, objectified or preyed upon,” Civil Rights lawyer, and NAACP member Benjamin Pinczewski told Our Time Press. “It is appalling that this man, a clear stalker who cares nothing about a woman’s right to privacy, remains a member free to harass, video, photograph, and objectify women of color without their permission or authorization. Staff at the club treated Ms. Ridley, a long standing member, as the ‘angry Black woman.’ Had management acted properly and interceded she would not have been subjected to his continued harassment. Then there is the NYPD’s response which was to blame the victim. Pure Gym needs responsible and caring staff to ensure that women members feel comfortable and safe working out at the gym.”