A London women-only gym is facing backlash after its founder, Natalee Barnett, announced it will exclude trans women – despite previously stating the gym would be trans-inclusive.
Source: Instagram/@nataleebarnett_
The Girls Spot was first announced in 2021 and is set to open in Wandsworth this spring after four years of fundraising, including donations from leisurewear brand GymShark.
Barnett initially supported trans inclusion at The Girls Spot, posting on Twitter, now X, in 2021:
Respectfully, if you have a problem with trans women attending my gym then you can find another gym to train at. I have discussed this several times before, trans women are women and also a minority that need to be protected. Please keep your transphobia away.
@nataleebfitness on X
The U-Turn That Sparked Outrage
In addition to her post on X in 2021, Barnett also posted TikToks stating the gym would be trans-inclusive.
But last week, she reversed her stance, saying The Girls Spot would be a cis women-only space, writing in a since-deleted post on X:
“The Girls Spot operates as a female-only gym for biological women, tackling harassment, sexual assault & violence that women face inside the gym. The tweet circling was made four years ago and I was in the very early stages of creating a concept.”
@nataleebfitness on X
Barnett’s reversal quickly sparked widespread debate, with many taking to social media to express both support and criticism. TikTok creator, Malini Sachdeva-Masson was among those reacting to the announcement.
Speaking to City News, Sachdeva-Masson said Barnett’s shift in stance has raised serious questions.
“I think it’s really important to ask why this decision has been made, because the reasons she gave don’t actually add up. It feels like it’s about public perception more than anything else.”
She also argued that Barnett’s reasoning lacked substance.
“When you interrogate her reasons, they don’t make sense. They’re not based on any facts – they’re based on feelings.”
Refunds Offered – Then Deleted
Amid criticism, Barnett offered refunds to GoFundMe donors in an Instagram post – but this post has now been deleted.
Sachdeva-Masson believes refunds should be the bare minimum.
“Even if it wasn’t a big amount, who cares? It’s people’s money. If you buy something and don’t get what you paid for, you want your money back, right?”
Source: GoFundMe
Barnett Defends Herself on LinkedIn
In response to the backlash, Barnett posted on LinkedIn, arguing that the debate should focus on why the gym is needed rather than who is excluded. She described the gym as a space for cis women to train, discuss PCOS and endometriosis, and rebuild confidence after trauma.
“The real discussion is about what happens when women finally feel safe in a gym,” she wrote, adding that over 20,000 women had already signed up.
She also addressed criticism about enforcement, stating:
“The Girls Spot isn’t about policing anyone, we trust that people will respect women’s safe spaces, just as they expect their own to be respected.”
What Happens Next?
Despite the backlash, Barnett has not changed her position.
Sachdeva-Masson believes Barnett now has a choice to make about how she moves forward.
“I think the good thing to do would be to open up the conversation again, speak to people outside of her immediate circles, actually engage with creators who’ve made critiques.”
Barnett did not respond to City News’ request for comment.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineThe Girls Spot Gym: Backlash, Refunds, and the Debate Over Women-Only Spaces
Short HeadlineWomen-Only Gym Sparks Inclusion Debate
StandfirstInfluencer Natalee Barnett faces backlash and support after confirming her gym will exclude trans women.
A London women-only gym is facing backlash after its founder, Natalee Barnett, announced it will exclude trans women – despite previously stating the gym would be trans-inclusive.
Source: Instagram/@nataleebarnett_
The Girls Spot was first announced in 2021 and is set to open in Wandsworth this spring after four years of fundraising, including donations from leisurewear brand GymShark.
Barnett initially supported trans inclusion at The Girls Spot, posting on Twitter, now X, in 2021:
Respectfully, if you have a problem with trans women attending my gym then you can find another gym to train at. I have discussed this several times before, trans women are women and also a minority that need to be protected. Please keep your transphobia away.
@nataleebfitness on X
The U-Turn That Sparked Outrage
In addition to her post on X in 2021, Barnett also posted TikToks stating the gym would be trans-inclusive.
But last week, she reversed her stance, saying The Girls Spot would be a cis women-only space, writing in a since-deleted post on X:
“The Girls Spot operates as a female-only gym for biological women, tackling harassment, sexual assault & violence that women face inside the gym. The tweet circling was made four years ago and I was in the very early stages of creating a concept.”
@nataleebfitness on X
Barnett’s reversal quickly sparked widespread debate, with many taking to social media to express both support and criticism. TikTok creator, Malini Sachdeva-Masson was among those reacting to the announcement.
Speaking to City News, Sachdeva-Masson said Barnett’s shift in stance has raised serious questions.
“I think it’s really important to ask why this decision has been made, because the reasons she gave don’t actually add up. It feels like it’s about public perception more than anything else.”
She also argued that Barnett’s reasoning lacked substance.
“When you interrogate her reasons, they don’t make sense. They’re not based on any facts – they’re based on feelings.”
Refunds Offered – Then Deleted
Amid criticism, Barnett offered refunds to GoFundMe donors in an Instagram post – but this post has now been deleted.
Sachdeva-Masson believes refunds should be the bare minimum.
“Even if it wasn’t a big amount, who cares? It’s people’s money. If you buy something and don’t get what you paid for, you want your money back, right?”
Source: GoFundMe
Barnett Defends Herself on LinkedIn
In response to the backlash, Barnett posted on LinkedIn, arguing that the debate should focus on why the gym is needed rather than who is excluded. She described the gym as a space for cis women to train, discuss PCOS and endometriosis, and rebuild confidence after trauma.
“The real discussion is about what happens when women finally feel safe in a gym,” she wrote, adding that over 20,000 women had already signed up.
She also addressed criticism about enforcement, stating:
“The Girls Spot isn’t about policing anyone, we trust that people will respect women’s safe spaces, just as they expect their own to be respected.”
What Happens Next?
Despite the backlash, Barnett has not changed her position.
Sachdeva-Masson believes Barnett now has a choice to make about how she moves forward.
“I think the good thing to do would be to open up the conversation again, speak to people outside of her immediate circles, actually engage with creators who’ve made critiques.”
Barnett did not respond to City News’ request for comment.
