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Civil Rights

Jun. 18, 2026

Celebrity trainer sues Equinox, alleges race and disability discrimination

Mario Godiva, a high-profile fitness instructor and cancer survivor, alleges Equinox discriminated against him because of his race and disability, harassed him while he was hospitalized with a life-threatening brain infection and fired him after he complained about retaliatory treatment.

Celebrity fitness trainer Mario Godiva sued Equinox Holdings Inc. on Wednesday, alleging the luxury gym chain discriminated against him because of his race and disability and fired him in retaliation for complaining about unequal treatment.

The lawsuit alleges Equinox paid Godiva less than white instructors with similar or lesser experience, harassed him while he was hospitalized with a life-threatening brain infection and terminated him weeks after he complained in writing that a...

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