A famous SoulCycle instructor apologizes after raising outrage for securing one of New York City’s coveted COVID vaccines.
Stacey Griffith, 52, who has trained Kelly Ripa, Demi Lovato and Brooke Shields and worked with Oprah Winfrey, posted an Instagram photo of her getting vaccinated on Friday. She said she had taken no shortcuts to secure the appointment and qualified as a “teacher.”
Now she apologizes to her fans and everyone else for receiving a COVID vaccine after coming under intense criticism.
“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent action in receiving the vaccine,” Griffith wrote on Instagram. “I made a terrible error of judgment and I’m really sorry.”
Stacey Griffith took to Instagram on Monday to apologize for getting her vaccine early
The post went up early Monday afternoon, but it appears that comments on that post have been turned off, as well as Griffith’s other recent posts.
This is the first post on her Instagram since mid-December as she recently deleted Friday’s post with a photo of her being vaccinated.
‘VACCINE DAY! Step one of the Moderna magic !! she wrote.
‘An hour’s drive to STATEN ISLAND is worth every minute! It takes a village. ‘
Griffith, 52, has been a SoulCycle instructor since 1996 and earns $ 800 per lesson
The Instagram post to her 64,000 followers was removed, but a backlash broke out within moments.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have both repeatedly complained about the scarcity of the vaccine and begged the federal government to send more.
‘My wife is a stage 4 cancer patient dealing with the fear and risk of going to a hospital cancer center weekly during COVID while the immune system is suppressed to receive the treatment that keeps her alive,’ wrote Gabrielle Novacek, a Chicago-based consultant noted.
She still has at least 2-3 months to qualify for a vaccine.
As a caregiver she depends on to support her, I am off for at least 4-5 months.
But then again, let’s celebrate making the world safe for a personal spin class in the midst of a global pandemic. What remains of any respect I had for Soul and the leaders it celebrates is over. ‘
O-pproved! Oprah has also engaged her for several events, including the Life You Want Weekend in 2014 (photo)
Morning Show Ladies: She counts Kelly Ripa as a longtime client and Hoda Kotb has also taken her classes
Other famous friends and fans include Derek Blasberg (left) and Demi Lovato (right)
Loyal: Brooke Shields has also been attending her classes for years
Griffith defended her decision to get vaccinated as a teacher, saying it helped others in the class
Griffith is one of SoulCycle’s highest paid and most sought after instructors
Griffith, who earns $ 800 per class according to Vox, told The Daily Beast that her role as an “ educator ” made her a good fit.
‘By having me vaccinated, short circuits within groups can be stopped!’ she said, via text message.
‘I function as a common point for many overlapping people. In my profession of health and wellness as a teacher, my daily priority is to keep my community and their respiratory systems running at full capacity so that they can defeat this virus if infected by it. I can only teach them if I am healthy myself. ‘
SoulCycle’s indoor classes were replaced by outdoor sessions during the pandemic.
Griffith added that she had ‘the same opportunity as everyone else by going online and filling out a questionnaire’ and insisted that she was ‘not doing any favors, I was not paying anyone money’.
‘All teachers are eligible to apply for the vaccine. My post today was to show my confidence in the system, in our government, and I hope everyone can at least feel more comfortable knowing I’ve been through the process! she added.
Asked if all SoulCycle instructors would be eligible for the vaccine, she told the site, “Absolutely not.”
A SoulCycle spokesperson told DailyMail.com: “Stacey Griffith was operating in a personal capacity to apply for a COVID-19 vaccine in NY state.
“SoulCycle does not play a role in organizing or obtaining vaccinations for instructors or other employees, nor do we encourage our SoulCycle employees to prioritize vaccinations as educators.”
Famous: Stacey has more than 64,000 Instagram followers and a fitness fan follows
Griffith was vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Moderna injection in New York City
‘This is nauseating. She actually stole a #CovidVaccine dose from a much more vulnerable person or a real personal teacher of kids, ” one person said on Twitter.
“There has to be a serious $$ fine or public service refund (what about driving seniors to take their chance?) For line jumpers.”
Another said, ‘There should be no group classes in NYC at this point. SC should fire her for posing as a teacher. ‘
New York City is currently in what has been called Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout.
Health workers, people over 65, supermarket workers and certain types of teachers are eligible for vaccination.
Those who teach K-12, personal college instructors, and childcare group caregivers are entitled to the vaccine.
“In general, confidentiality makes it difficult for us to comment on individuals,” said a New York City Department of Health spokesman.
Griffith with girlfriend Michelle Smith, a fashion designer, in October 2019
De Blasio said Wednesday deliveries of Moderna vaccines had been delayed and that he had asked the federal government to increase deliveries and the ability to use second doses on first injections for new patients.
“We’ve had to move 23,000 New Yorkers and tell them they won’t be able to get that appointment due to a lack of supply,” de Blasio said.
A spokesman for the New York City Mayor’s office told The Daily Beast, “Under Phase 1B, celebrity bike instructors are not eligible for vaccination.”
SoulCycle has not commented.
Griffith confirmed that she had her post deleted amid the uproar.
“I hate controversy,” she told The Daily Beast.
“It makes me sad that people get so dark and mean, I’m really just trying to do the right thing and be safe.”