1 /5 ambreen butt: I’m deeply disappointed by my experience at Fit This Gym, Reading Lane, Hackney.
After being physically assaulted by another member in the ladies’ locker room, I reported the incident to staff straight away. Instead of receiving support, I was spoken to harshly by management and banned from the gym, while the woman who assaulted me faced no consequence.
During that conversation, remarks were made about my personality and the way I carry myself — including comments about how I “walk” and how I’m “popular” with staff and members. These comments were completely inappropriate, unprofessional, and felt personal and discriminatory. I was even described as “wild” and told I didn’t know how to behave, which was deeply insulting and unfair, especially as I was the one who had just been assaulted.
As a woman of colour, I can’t ignore the racial bias and stereotyping that seemed to shape how I was treated. Many members who have known me for years reached out afterwards, expressing shock and sadness over how this situation was handled, and some said they no longer feel comfortable attending the gym.
I do want to make it clear that the staff and members at Fit This are phenomenal — warm, supportive, and professional. My issue lies entirely with the management, whose handling of this situation was unacceptable and unprofessional.
I hope they take this as a moment to reflect seriously on accountability, respect, and the importance of addressing racial bias. No member should ever feel unsafe, dismissed, or humiliated in a place meant for wellbeing and community.
Following the manager’s public reply to my review, I felt it was important to respond with clarity and honesty so that my experience is fully understood.
Thank you for your response. I appreciate that the gym takes incidents seriously, but I want to clarify that my account is truthful and comes from a place of genuine hurt. I was physically assaulted and then spoken to in a demeaning way, being called “wild” and told I “don’t know how to behave.”
Despite being the one who was assaulted, I was banned indefinitely, while the other party was allowed to remain. Fairness would have meant both individuals being asked to leave pending investigation — instead, only I was penalised.
It is well known among staff, members, and even the manager that I did not lay a finger on the person who assaulted me, yet he continues to describe me as “the aggressor” and my behaviour as “threatening.” I genuinely do not understand what he is referring to, as I did not behave violently in any way.
His comments about CCTV also gave me pause for thought — particularly as there is no CCTV in the ladies’ locker room, making it impossible for him to have reviewed the most crucial part of the incident. Any conclusions drawn from footage could only reflect what occurred at the main desk, where my attacker continued to goad me while I reported the incident to staff. Even then, I did not act violently or in a threatening manner; I simply raised my voice in distress after being harmed.
The manager stated that he acted fairly, yet his decision to immediately ban me indefinitely — while reassuring the individual who assaulted me — demonstrates the opposite. His actions and language throughout this incident reflect a very clear racial bias, and the events that took place only reinforce that. Describing me as “aggressive” and “threatening” for expressing justified emotion after being assaulted is a damaging and racially loaded stereotype that should never have been used.
Several members who witnessed what happened have since reached out, expressing shock and disappointment. My concerns about bias and how the situation was handled remain sincere. Unfortunately, the manager’s response failed to address my concerns directly and instead relied on widely used rhetoric that doesn’t reflect the reality of what took place.
I continue to wish the wonderful staff and members — who have always been warm and respectful — all the very best.
