Ruth Zukerman, one of the co-founders of the fitness company SoulCycle, claims she was pushed out of the business by her partners Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice. Zukerman details the alleged ousting in the new documentary "Spin Wars," stating that Cutler and Rice, whom she introduced to each other, informed her in a meeting that she was no longer a partner.
According to the documentary, Zukerman brought her existing client base from a Reebok Club cycling class to SoulCycle. She reportedly taught 21 classes per week and helped develop the workout method that contributed to the brand's popularity. At the time of her departure, she had not signed any partnership paperwork.
Cutler allegedly offered Zukerman a position as an instructor after delivering the news of her removal as a partner. A 2010 New York Times article noted that Zukerman left SoulCycle in November of that year under circumstances she was legally restricted from discussing, and that the remaining founders appeared intent on removing her from the company's narrative. The company's website at the time did not mention her founding role.
Cutler and Rice told The Times in 2010, "Ruth worked with us for a time. We decided to part ways. We wish her the best." Zukerman, who later authored the book "Riding High: How I Kissed SoulCycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, and Built the Life I Always Wanted," has previously spoken about the situation but felt now was the appropriate time to share more details.
Zukerman, who was reportedly excluded from the company about a year and a half after its founding in 2006, stated that she did sign an agreement after her departure, but described its language as "loose." She expressed that she would regret keeping her story private and found telling it cathartic.
"I literally had a thought at one point two years ago . . . ‘Why am I not talking about this?'" Zukerman said during a screening of the film at the Hamptons International Film Festival. At 68, she decided it was time to share her experience.
Zukerman attributed her effectiveness as an instructor to her vulnerability, but suggested this trait may have left her disadvantaged in business dealings. "It didn’t really serve me well with what happened with Julie and Elizabeth," she said. "And at the same time, it was a learning lesson for me, but I never gave up who I really was and I remained true to myself."
Documentary director Philip Byron stated that he wants the truth about Zukerman's experience to be known. "What happened to Ruth is completely f–ked up and everyone needs to talk about it," he said. "And hopefully it’s a lesson for all of us. . . we all can relate to getting screwed over."
"Spin Wars," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, also features interviews with Peloton co-founder Marion Roaman, Katie Couric, and comedians Mary Beth Barone and Heather McMahan.
SoulCycle, which at its peak operated approximately 99 studios, attracted celebrity clientele including Madonna, Oprah Winfrey, Ashley Olsen, Harry Styles, Kelly Ripa, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Charlize Theron. The company experienced challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to studio closures and instructor pay reductions in recent years.