Trump-Supporting Owner of Equinox Says He's a Champion of Diversity

The owner of SoulCycle and Equinox, who came under fire Wednesday after news broke that he is hosting an upcoming fundraiser for Donald Trump, is trying to do some serious damage control by ... talking about his friendship with Donald Trump. Interesting tactic!

Real estate developer and majority owner of Related Companies Stephen Ross, who owns the Equinox Fitness Clubs, PURE Yoga, Blink Fitness, and SoulCycle, is hosting a fundraiser for Trump in Southampton this weekend where the priciest ticket is $250,000 -- and I thought my Blink membership was a little pricey. On Wednesday, Equinox and SoulCycle released a statement, claiming they don't "have anything to do with the event later this week and do not support it. As is consistent with our policies, no company profits are used to fund politicians. We are committed to all our members and the communities we live in. We believe in tolerance and equality, and will always stay true to those values."

"Mr. Ross is a passive investor and is not involved in the management of either business," the statement also said."

Now Ross is making his own statement, amidst the call for a boycott of his properties on social media. "I always have been an active participant in the democratic process. While some prefer to sit outside of the process and criticize, I prefer to engage directly and support the things I deeply care about," the mogul said, according to the Miami Herald's Adam Beasley. He added that he's known the president for 40 years and "while we agree on some issues, we strongly disagree on many others, and I have never been bashful about expressing my opinions." Or about whipping out your checkbook!

"I have been, and will continue to be, an outspoken champion of racial equality, inclusion, diversity, public education and environmental sustainability, and I have and will continue to support leaders on both sides of the aisle to address these challenges." But how can you be a champion of diversity and equality when you're holding a fundraiser for a president endorsed by the KKK? Make it make sense!

RELATED | UPDATE: Equinox Disavows Trump-Supporting Owner, Following Backlash