A Perth-based Pilates studio is facing accusations of body shaming after leaked text messages from its owner described clients as "overweight" mums with "fat a**es." The dispute began when Freemove Pilates declined a request from local influencers for free sessions in exchange for social media promotion.
In response to the influencers' Instagram page, Hey Perth Mama, Freemove Pilates posted, "F*** INFLUENCERS," and publicly tagged the page. The situation escalated when a follower of the Instagram page, Traci, left a one-star Google review criticizing the studio's "dismissing hostile language."
Freemove Pilates owner Tahlia Jeffery then sent Traci a private message that has since drawn widespread criticism. In the message, Jeffery reportedly wrote, "We don't have influencers in our studio. Why? Because most of the members are overweight and mums like you. None of them want their fat a**es splashed over TikTok." Jeffery also commented on Traci's previous reviews, calling them "b ching and moaning."
A TikTok account believed to be associated with Jeffery was also seen commenting on Traci's videos, referring to her as a "plus size influencer."
In an Instagram post addressing the controversy, co-owner James Jeffery, who is also Tahlia Jeffery's husband, acknowledged that his wife's language was "crude and poorly expressed." He stated that while "acknowledging body size is not body shaming," the wording was a misinterpretation of Tahlia's "positive intention."
However, when directly contacted by the Daily Mail, James Jeffery admitted that his wife's comments to Traci had "crossed a line" and were "wrong and inappropriate," attributing them to the "heat of the moment."
Freemove Pilates operates studios in Kinross, Carine, and Jolimont. The studio's initial refusal of the influencer collaboration stated it "takes great pride in not partnering with influencers," calling them "modern day panhandlers."