On its surface, the commercial seems innocuous enough: A man gives his wife a Peloton bike for Christmas, which she adores and uses religiously.
However, the holiday-themed ad featuring “Grace in Boston” has sparked a slew of horrified and disgusted reactions from people online, as well as severalpublications.
The commercial, which was posted to Peloton’s official YouTube channel on Nov. 21, portrays a man gifting his wife a stationary bicycle for Christmas. She then takes cellphone videos of her rides — from her first, to her fifth, to her 50th; at 6 a.m., after work, when it’s snowing outside. At one point, the instructor on the screen can be heard saying, “Let’s go, Grace in Boston,” to which the woman exclaims, “She just said my name!”
In a somewhat surprising twist, however, it turns out that the couple have been watching a home movie of all the clips she has taken — a full year later.
“A year ago, I didn’t realize how much this would change me. Thank you,” the woman says in the ad, which is titled, “The Gift that Gives Back.”
However, many people took issue with the ad for the bike, which starts at $2,245 — before the $39/month membership fee to stream the service’s virtual classes. (The online outrage also drove down Peloton shares as much as 10 percent, and prompted calls for the company to pull the commercial, according to Bloomberg News.)
RELATED: What Peloton had to say about the viral reaction to their ‘Grace in Boston’ ad
The only way to enjoy that Peloton ad is to think of it as the first minute of an episode of Black Mirror
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) December 2, 2019
Nothing says ?maybe you should lose a few pounds? like gifting your already rail thin life partner a Peloton pic.twitter.com/E2M9gFdD5A
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) December 2, 2019
this year i?m thankful for the inspiring peloton commercial of the apprehensive 105 lb woman whose life was forever changed by her new exercise bike bc she was able to get to her goal weight of 103 lbs #livelaughlove #blessed #namaste
— Jess (@omgjesstweets) December 1, 2019
[peloton ad meeting]
— Douglas A. Boneparth (@dougboneparth) December 2, 2019
Ad Exec: A weight loss journey.
CMO: Go on...
Ad Exec: But instead of featuring actual customers who?ve transformed their lives, we hire a model already in amazing shape?
CMO: Make it happen.
[twelve hours later] pic.twitter.com/Cx56YNRrRb
The Peleton ad that shows the skinny athletic model transforming to a skinnier athletic model makes me wanna put my head threw a plate glass window. #peloton
— Dominick Lombardi (@dlombardi77) December 2, 2019
That face you make when you have to videotape yourself exercising to prove to your husband that you're making every effort to (checks notes) look thin for him. #peloton pic.twitter.com/Hq6stoiETH
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) December 3, 2019
It's clear this woman doesn't need a Peloton. She needs a good therapist and a divorce lawyer. https://t.co/II7F0HicAE
— Hemal Jhaveri (@hemjhaveri) December 2, 2019
I hope the Peloton wife leaves her husband and takes their daughter and falls in love with the Mandalorian and they raise the daughter and Baby Yoda together as one happy family. That?s what I hope.
— The War on Christmark (@markhoppus) December 3, 2019
My fave commercial right now is that one where a guy buys his already perfectly fit wife a Peloton for Christmas and she gets revenge by making him watch a compilation video of her using it for a year
— Adam Tod Brown (@adamtodbrown) November 30, 2019
No offense to the Peloton lady but if your Christmas gift to me is just a video of you using the Christmas gift I got you last year then you?re not getting another Christmas present from me again
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 3, 2019
Sorry to shake things up but I'm excited to announce I'm throwing my hat in the ring and joining the presidential race and running on the single issue platform to jail everyone involved in the pitching, scripting, acting, shooting, and approval of the Peloton ad.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) December 2, 2019
We all need to treasure the things that bring us together as a nation, as a people. Collectively hating on this Peloton ad is that thing. pic.twitter.com/UQtUU4CCQt
— Renee Klahr (@reneeklahr) December 2, 2019
Peloton's stock is down 10% today based on Twitter mockery alone
— Ben Carlson (@awealthofcs) December 3, 2019
Social media is the best/worst pic.twitter.com/3OXFHsYhS6
Correct me if I'm wrong, but a Peloton is basically just an exercise bike for people with too much money?
— JaysonTatUmaThurMannieFresh (@SnottieDrippen) December 2, 2019
I want the Peloton ad where someone piles clothes on it for a year and takes pictures of the pile?s growth and feels just fine about it
— BUM CHILLUPS (@edsbs) December 2, 2019
hear me out: a portable peloton that will move as you pedal it
— angel (@angelmendozaAZC) December 3, 2019
MORE:
• Here’s why people are reacting so viscerally to the ‘Grace in Boston’ Peloton commercial
• Here’s what Peloton had to say about the viral reaction to its ‘Grace in Boston’ ad
• Advice: Can I give my wife an exercise bike? And other gift etiquette guidelines
• Nestor Ramos: If Peloton is canceled, here are some gifts that won’t get you in trouble on Twitter
• Kevin Cullen: Cut Grace from Boston some slack. There are Christmas ads far more insulting
• Peloton ‘husband’ says he worries about repercussions on his career
Jaclyn Reiss can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @JaclynReiss