Local gym issues apology for hosting controversial comedy group

A Vancouver gym has issued an apology after hosting a controversial comedy show.

F45 Training in Chinatown wrote on social media that it made a “grave mistake” when a Danger Cats comedy show was hosted in its space over the weekend.

“We are aware that this event has upset many individuals, and we want to extend our sincerest apologies to all who have been affected,” the gym wrote in an Instagram post.

The Canadian comedy group came under fire after it was discovered that the group was selling t-shirts making light of the Robert Pickton case.

Pickton was found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder in December 2007. When the Supreme Court of Canada upheld his sentence, first-degree murder charges involving 20 other women, were stayed because Pickton was already serving the maximum sentence.

The gym says it wants to make it “unequivocally clear” it’s not affiliated with the Danger Cats and the event was booked by a third party organization that handles private bookings of the space.

“Unfortunately, a mistake was made, and proper vetting of the event organizers did not occur,” the gym wrote.

“We are beside ourselves and sick that we let this happen in our studio.”

In the future, the gym says it wants to reassure its patrons its space will only be used for “health, wellness, and fitness purposes” that align with its values.

This comes after a petition was launched in February to cancel a performance by the group in New Westminster. The show was subsequently cancelled, alongside other appearances by the group set to take place in Edmonton and Ottawa.