The backlash over hosting a Trump fundraiser has been swift for developer Stephen Ross.
Within 24 hours of word getting out, Equinox members and SoulCycle devotees have threatened to boycott both brands, which are owned by Ross’ Related Companies.
In a joint statement, the CEOs of Equinox and SoulCycle tried to distance themselves from the fracas and Ross himself.
Through Vayner/RSE, a partnership between Gary Vaynerchuck, Vayner Media and RSE, Ross has supported dozens more.
Ross also owns the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium, which in addition to now hosting the annual Miami Open tennis tournament will be home to the Super Bowl in 2020.
Equinox and SoulCycle are both tenants at the Related Group’s SLS Brickell, a twin-tower, 690-unit luxury condo development in Miami.
In 2014, RSE also partnered with Gary Vaynerchuck to form Vayner RSE, a $25 million seed fund and incubator that lists a “Family” of 79 startups on its website, including Snapchat; Pillow, a hospitality company that deals with rentals; and Pixel Press, an app that lets kids make video games on an iPad. Ross is a master of “Connecting the dots,” RSE co-founder Higgins told Eater last year.