27 February 2023 , 14:34
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An OnlyFans model has said she was discriminated against after she had her gym membership axed over an innocuous photo she took in the changing rooms.
Stephanie Harrison, 31, was a member of CrossFit Death or Glory until earlier this month when a picture of her in her gym gear posted to her Instagram came to light.
Posted on February 21 to her work's backup Instagram and personal account, it showed her in a sports bra and leggings following a class.
Her account has a link to her OnlyFans profile - as well as an AdmireMeVIP account - and the owners decided to take action against her.
Stephanie said she was "stunned" and "disgusted when the gym's owners got in touch and asked her to leave, saying they did not want any association with the site.
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The picture that caused Stephanie's gym to cancel her membership (Stephanie Harrison / SWNS)
Stephanie said she was 'stunned and disgusted' (Stephanie Harrison / SWNS)The first WhatsApp message from the owner said: “Afternoon Stephanie, it has been brought to our attention that you are running an Only Fans page and that pictures on the page have been taken in the gym.
“What you do in your own time is completely up to you, however we as a business want absolutely no link to something like this.
“We therefore respectfully request for you to leave the gym with immediate effect.
“We will cancel your membership and refund you the week that remains on the month you have paid for. We hope you understand and wish you luck in the future."
The mum of two, who forked out a £79 rolling monthly membership with the gym, claimed: "I’m honestly stunned and absolutely disgusted. This is utter discrimination.
"I'm sorry I'm not a doctor or a lawyer and they don't think my money's clean enough for them."
'They don't think my money's clean enough for them,' she claimed (Stephanie Harrison / SWNS)
Stephanie argues none of the pictures she has taken in the gym ended up on her OnlyFans account (Stephanie Harrison / SWNS)During the WhatsApp exchange, the gym owners said pictures posted on her OnlyFans page had been taken in the gym, which she denies.
After Stephanie asked to see proof, she was sent a screenshot of photos on the backup Instagram account.
She also said she had posted pictures before and had never had a complaint after she became a member in 2019.
Reliving the incident, Stephanie said: "CrossFit gyms are supposed to be a community - my job shouldn't be questioned.
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"There wasn't even any link to the gym at all in that picture, and I don’t mention them in my stories.
"You can't tell from the picture where it was taken. I used the CrossFit hashtag, but that isn't naming the gym.
The gym argued it was nothing personal (Stephanie Harrison / SWNS)
Stephanie says there is a stigma against the kind of work she does (Stephanie Harrison / SWNS)"This was totally unexpected. It's not like it was nude - I was in a sports bra. There's nothing in the gym to say, 'No photography'. I'm being victimised.
"I deal with a lot of hate in my work. The stigma is still there, and for a reputable gym to do this is not on at all. You also do not cancel someone's membership by WhatsApp."
The gym told Stephanie their decision was not "a personal attack" based on her profession, but that it was a decision "based on not wanting people seeing those images and linking the gym or us to it."
They added: "Regardless of whether you agree with it or not, we reserve the right to decide who trains here and to protect our reputation."
The Mirror has approached the gym for comment.