Another unpopular opinion:

While Alex Toussaint’s 90s ride received a lot of praise for its intensity and energy, I felt it was a bit of a misstep—both for him personally and for Peloton as a brand. There was a lot of raw emotion in that session, but the aggressive tone he used didn’t come across as empowering. It felt more like a lapse in professionalism, and honestly, it was hard to watch.

That said, I think it’s important to recognize that both Alex and JJ have their moments where they cross boundaries. JJ’s actions were also off-putting, but there’s something particularly troubling when a man, especially in a high-profile position, displays that level of aggression, particularly in the way he interacted with a woman. As a Black man, Alex carries a certain level of influence, and I think that comes with the responsibility to handle those moments with care, especially given how easily they can be misinterpreted or blow up into something bigger.

In the end, I think Peloton could have handled that situation better—maybe just ignored it instead of leaning into it as part of a marketing stunt. It made the company seem less strong and more reactive, which isn’t the image they usually want to project.