Was this Pilates instructor racist or just oblivious? Despite its origins as an exercise for injured and disabled soldiers and dancers, Pilates has become a wellness-world staple. This is especially true among a predominantly white, affluent crowd.
Depending on where you go, group classes can range anywhere from $15 to $100. Some people report that in order to go regularly, they spend about $350-$400 a month.
That price tag—along with the aesthetics of reformer studios filled with pastel mats and women in coordinated activewear sets—has made Pilates feel exclusive, even unwelcoming, to those who don’t fit a certain mold.
And it’s even worse in cases like this where the very instructor could be the one, purposefully or not, projecting stereotypes.
Pilates teacher mistakes Black student for worker
In a video with 1.2 million views, Fawaz Odunbaku (@wazodunbaku) shared a Pilates encounter that has viewers up in arms.
“POV: you came to a PILATES class and the instructor thought you were a construction owrker so she kicked you out the class,” Odunbaku wrote in the text overlay.
In the video, which Odunbaku seemed to take after the initial encounter, the instructor seems to have realized her mistake. She went over to apologize and explain herself.
She explained that construction work was being done in the studio next door and since Odunbaku had “those things” she thought he was one of the construction workers who was just messing with her.
“I am so sorry,” she told him before proceeding to show him around the studio.
“Construction???? i came to WORK,” Odunbaku wrote in the caption.
“I came a lil late so she made me wait and join in on the next class and she was cool ash. but when i first came in i had to convince her i wasn’t there for construction. i came in with my water bottle and camera idk where construction even came from. the things we do for content.”
Clearing the air
Odunbaku made a follow-up video to address all of the concerns viewers had about the encounter.
He explained that as an athlete (he plays basketball) and content creator, he wanted to try pilates out to see how it would help him physically, and so he could create new content around it.
Odunbaku went on to say that he arrived at the class a bit late, so the instructor told him to stick around til the next class started, but also mentioned something about Odunbaku being there to work on the next studio.
Odunbaku was confused by the remark. However, given that they were both smiling throughout the encounter, he didn’t read into it.
The interaction in the original viral video happened right before Odunbaku was heading into the class he was waiting for. It seems that the instructor kept on thinking about it and realized her mistake.
The video reached both the instructor and studio owner, who both apologized to Odunbaku.
Odunbaku said that he understood why they wouldn’t assume he was there for class since he’s a man (and pilates tends to be more woman-dominated) and a tall one at that.
“I don’t think it was malicious intent,” Odunbaku said.
Viewers think it’s a deeper issue
“File a complaint. That was profiling,” a top comment read.
“I think this is more sexism than racism. Idk, but ik pilates is marketed towards women, alot of thr classes expect and have kore to all women. So a man showing up is sexism, but if she had other men of color in the class, its definitely racism,” a person said.
“I would’ve left and asked to get a refund,” another wrote.
@wazodunbaku construction???? i came to WORK ?? i came a lil late so she made me wait and join in on the next class and she was cool ash. but when i first came in i had to convince her i wasn’t there for construction. i came in with my water bottle and camera idk where construction even came from. the things we do for content ? #fyp #fypシ #weluvwazz #30daysofwaz #roadto10k #pilates #contentcreator #meninwomenfields ♬ original sound – weluvwazz
The Mary Sue reached out to Odunbaku for comment via Instagram and TikTok direct message.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
