Russell Bateman, founder of The Skinny B***h Collective, has apologised after he was accused of using Maasai tribesmen as 'literal props' during 'colonial mindset' workouts
The founder of a celebrity fitness programme has apologised after his Kenyan fitness retreat was accused of using Maasai tribesmen as 'literal props' during 'colonial mindset' workouts.
Videos posted on Instagram by exclusive fitness program RussellSBC, the Skinny B***h Collective, show at least four Maasai tribes people, wearing the traditional Shuka red-wrapped cloth, stood a metre away from each other as women weaved between them.
Russell Bateman, the program's founder, has since deleted his Instagram account and said he has 'been truly humbled by today's events' and 'will consider how best to learn and evolve from these ill-conceived ideas'.
Responding to criticism he told MailOnline: 'I would like to sincerely apologise to anyone who I have offended with the content posted from the Kenya retreat. It was never my intention to cause offence and I am deeply saddened.
Responding to criticism he told MailOnline: 'I would like to sincerely apologise to anyone who I have offended with the content posted from the Kenya retreat. It was never my intention to cause offence and I am deeply saddened.
'We arrived in this magnificent country in awe of its natural and human beauty, and I am devastated for anything related to this retreat to be considered disrespectful of the environment and culture in which we have travelled.
'It has been an honour to meet the Maasai people and be welcomed so warmly into their home. We have all been overwhelmed by their kindness, generosity and spirit.
'I have been truly humbled by today’s events and will be taking my time to reflect and consider how best to learn and evolve from these ill-conceived ideas going forward.'
Standing a metre apart the tribesmen appear to act as markers while the group of white women wearing identical black fitness outfits weave between them
Videos posted on Instagram by exclusive fitness program RussellSBC, the Skinny B***h Collective, show at least four Maasai tribes people wearing the traditional Shuka red wrapped cloth
Standing a metre apart the tribesmen appear to act as markers while the group of white women wearing identical black fitness outfits weave between them.
In other videos the Maasai tribes people stand in the background while the women compete in a tug-of-war and reptilian crawl - keeping as low to the floor without pelvis or chest touching and moving along the ground.
They even jump along as the women perform another exercise.
Russell Bateman is the founder of the Skinny B***h Collective - a program that has previously trained Ellie Goulding, Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Whitmore, Florence Welch and Made in Chelsea's Millie McIntosh and is renowned for intense workouts.
A host of other famous names in the fashion industry, including Kendrick Lamar's stylist Dianne Garcia, were quick to criticise the videos
Posted by diet_prada, an Instagram account that comments on the fashion industry, the caption read: 'Ummm...happy International Women's Day? Russell Bateman, the white male mastermind behind the invite-only fitness collective SBC (Skinny B***h Collective), took a gang of seemingly cloned, pony-tailed white women on a retreat in Kenya.
'Among the sisterhood-fostering activities like hot air balloon rides, chef-prepared organic meals (that chia berry jam!), and dancing 'round a tree of life, they also managed to use the local Maasai people not only as a backdrop, but as literal props in their fitness routines.
The program previously trained Ellie Goulding, Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Whitmore, Florence Welch and Made in Chelsea's Millie McIntosh (pictured)
'Some videos have already been deleted, but screenshots appear to show the girls writhing around the locals like an obstacle course.
'Booty twisting on Maasai cloth chick deserves special mention...real classy lol. It's 2019 and apparently people still haven't learned that POC/ethnic groups don't exist to embellish already privileged lives. The Colonial mindset is alive and well I guess.'
Videos and photos posted on Instagram were captioned: 'Celebrating strong women today and everyday. Some of our clients representing International Women's Day.'
Supermodel Karen Elson commented: 'So offensive, who on earth approved such a ridiculous and degrading concept?'
One African woman posted a lengthy comment slamming the fitness programmes attitude towards the Masai tribes people.
She said: 'As an African woman I am tired of seeing my people relegated to play in the background.
'As a Kenyan woman it enrages me to see my people being used as PROPS, being ridiculed in his posts, being used to be their personal "cheerleaders" asking them to perform their traditional jump/dance to add to the 'atmosphere ' of their workouts.
'This is a tribe that fought for their culture through colonization. This is a tribe whose way of life has been followed for centuries.
'This is a tribe still untouched by western standards. And THIS is how they are being used.
'THIS is how their friendliness and willingness to share their culture is going to be used. We cannot allow this.
'Everyone involved needs to be held accountable, from @russellsbc to the women involved, to the travel company that connected this man with these locals for probably some form of "contribution" that will not even make a positive impact in the community, to the photographer.
'My culture is not your prop, my PEOPLE are not PROPs!! we can no longer allow this colonialist mindset to be okay.'
Supermodel Karen Elson commented: 'So offensive, who on earth approved such a ridiculous and degrading concept?'
A host of other famous names in the fashion industry, including Kendrick Lamar's stylist Dianne Garcia, were quick to criticise the videos.
Dianne tagged Vogue Paris in her comment which read: 'Wow your wellness contributor huh. Shame.'
The 'most exclusive fitness class on the planet' the SBC is 'nothing short of a global phenomenon', according to its website.
The website reads: 'Popular with the A - list and a myriad of supermodels, it lies somewhere between forward-thinking fashionable fitness and a cave-girl sorority.
'The class is a mixture of high intensity and animalistic movements that completely throw you out of your comfort zone.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/09/skinny-bh-collective-director-apologises-for-colonial-minded-fitness-retreat-with-tribesmen/
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Russell Bateman, founder of The Skinny B***h Collective, has apologised after he was accused of using Maasai tribesmen as ‘literal props’ during ‘colonial mindset’ workouts
The founder of a celebrity fitness programme has apologised after his Kenyan fitness retreat...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/09/17/10781582-6789285-image-a-6_1552153245002.jpg
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