After an ad for fitness brand Peloton went viral for all the wrong reasons, the actress caught in the middle finally makes a statement–or two.
The ad came out in November and almost immediately went viral with Twitter, in particular, leading the charge. Tweets called the video “creepy,” “disturbing” and “cringeworthy.”
All this sudden attention shocked the woman who played the seemingly terrified fitness bike recipient, Monica Ruiz.
https://youtu.be/pShKu2icEYw
The ad, titled “The Gift That Gives Back,” shows a wife who receives a perhaps unwelcome gift of a piece of exercise equipment from her husband (Really? Was the store out of vacuum cleaners?) In the commercial, the woman documents her fitness journey by making videos…as you do. Eventually, she loves the bike and shows her hubby the videos. “I didn’t realize how much this would change me,” she says.
In a statement to Deadline through her agency, LA Talent, Ruiz said,
Although I’m an actress, I am not quite comfortable being in spotlight and I’m terrible on social media.
So to say I was shocked and overwhelmed by the attention this week (especially the negative) is an understatement.
In a statement to CNBC, Peloton expressed their disappointment how so many misinterpreted the spirit behind the ad. Their stock had even dropped due to the backlash.
Ruiz then made another statement of sorts when she appeared in an ad for Ryan Reynold’s Aviation Gin that made fun of the whole hot Peloton mess.
https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/1203118775815622664
For Reynold’s Aviation Gin spot, Ruiz reprises her role as the Peloton wife. But in this ad, she gets to escape.
When Ryan and his production team called about Aviation Gin, they helped me find some humor in the situation.
I am grateful to both Peloton and now Aviation Gin for the work and giving me the opportunity to do what I love to do.
Good for you Monica!
