CrossFit PR Director Gives Company’s Founder New Phone
/
CrossFit founder Greg Glassman, who recently resigned his post as CEO, has received a parting gift from the company’s director of public relations: A new company phone.
Glassman abruptly stepped down this week after comments he tweeted about George Floyd “sparked a social media backlash.”
According to The AP,
Glassman’s exit may have been sealed after Buzzfeed posted a Zoom call he held with CrossFit affiliated gyms in which Glassman reportedly said: “We’re not mourning for George Floyd — I don’t think me or any of my staff are.” Buzzfeed said it received the recording through its anonymous tip line.
The new company-supplied phone, a model by Fisher Price, features a ringing rotary dial, eyes that roll up and down, and sturdy construction. It also has wheels and a long string attached to the front of its base, making it highly portable.
Alex Bell, CrossFit’s VP for public relations, personally delivered the new phone to Glassman’s home this morning.
“Here,” Bell told Glassman, handing him the brightly colored device. “Our way of saying, ‘No hard feelings.’”
“This baby is state of the art,” Bell continued, as Glassman examined the phone, turning it over in his hands, testing the dial, and delighting in the bright ring-ring! sound it made. “You can use this to talk to anyone you want from now on—activists, journalists. Anyone.”
“The best part is that you can’t hear the person on the other end, so you won’t get distracted by a lot of jibber-jabber,” said Bell, as Glassman, frowning in concentration, painstakingly spelled out “A-L-L L-I-V-E-S M-A-T-T-E-R” on the phone’s dial. “But they can hear you. Every word. Crystal clear.”
“Oh, yeah,” Bell added, “you can use this for Twitter and stuff too.”
Bell told Glassman that the new phone was so good, he would no longer be needing any of his other communication devices. Before leaving, he collected Glassman’s smartphones, tablets, and computers, as well as three landline telephones, a pair of walkie-talkies, and two rolls of postage stamps.
"Have fun,” said Bell on his way out the door. “If you need anything, just call.”
