UPDATE (20:19): The Fairhope Police Department has released a statement regarding today’s bomb threat targeting Planet Fitness in Baldwin Square.
“Planet Fitness in Fairhope, as well as neighboring businesses in the Baldwin Square Shopping Center, were evacuated this afternoon due to a bomb threat to the fitness franchise,” FPD said in a Facebook post. “The threat was emailed to a news source citing several target locations. The building was cleared by the Mobile FBI and is now open.
“It is important to note that many of the Planet Fitness franchises across the country have received similar threats in recent weeks.”
UPDATE (19:10): More than one Planet Fitness location in Mobile received a bomb threat, but it should be safe to visit local franchises, News 5 has learned.
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The Mobile Police Department reportedly investigated each threat and said in a statement to local media, “…no evidence of a threat was found at the locations.”
Planet Fitness locations in Mobile reportedly received bomb threats this weekend, as did franchises in Daphne and Fairhope.
Bomb threats targeting the franchise have been reported for almost a month.
ORIGINAL STORY:
FAIRHOPE, Ala. (WKRG) — Fairhope Police confirmed today that a bomb threat was sent to a local Planet Fitness. It was one of at least three local threats targeting the franchise.
News 5 learned the threat came in an email to the Baldwin Square Fitness Center.
INCIDENT LOCATION:
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Fairhope police and fire responded around 3:30 p.m. and searched the building but found no signs of a bomb, we’ve learned. It reportedly took about two hours to clear the scene.
This bomb threat was not an isolated incident in South Alabama.
News 5 has confirmed that at least three Planet Fitness locations (in Fairhope, Daphne and Mobile) have received bomb threats.
About the backlash against Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness has become a focal point of online discussion over the past month.
The New Hampshire-based fitness center franchisor was particularly scrutinized on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
It seems to have started with a March 11 post on LibsofTikTok account that says, “A woman at Planet Fitness claims she went into the bathroom and this man, who thinks he’s a woman, was in there shaving. Why @PlanetFitness allow men to use the women’s bathroom and invade women’s personal spaces??”
The post included a video of a woman sharing her experience right outside a fitness gym in Fairbanks, Alaska, and a photo of the person who was allegedly in the women’s restroom at Planet Fitness. It has received over 48,000 likes and 11,700 reposts.
LibsofTikTok frequently reposts content from LGBTQ+ people and posts conservative commentary on topical issues.
Since March 11, LibsofTikTok has published numerous articles about Planet Fitness, accusing the chain of “putting the delusions of a mentally ill man before the safety of women,” “cutting children’s hair,” and “discriminating against white people.”
These posts, which were shared, reposted and inspired by thousands of others across platforms, sparked a national conversation about women’s rights, transgender rights and personal safety in private spaces.
Since March 11, the hashtags “#BoycottPlanetFitness” and “#PlanetFitness” have been trending frequently on X.
And Fox News reported this The value of Planet Fitness down $400 million since the crash.
Bomb threats at Planet Fitness locations across the country
Starting March 15, Planet Fitness locations across the country have received bomb threatsaccording to various news outlets.
Locations include Fairbanks; Jackson, Mississippi; Wayne County, Michigan; Providence, Rhode Island; and East Haven and Hamden, Connecticut, according to news reports.
No connection has been made between viral social media posts and these bomb threats.
Chaya Rajczyk, the creator of LibsofTikTok, has said in past interviews that her followers cannot be blamed for bomb threats about topics she covers.
The threats, she said, could come from anyone, including rivals who want to silence her content.
This is a developing story. News 5 will update this article when more information becomes available.
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