Who is the “Peloton Wife?” Well, you may have seen her before.
Actress Monica Ruiz plays the role in the exercise bike company’s holiday ad, which sparked controversy this week, according to multiple reports.
In the commercial, her character is gifted a bike by her husband and records a vlog of her workouts and progress over the course of a year. Many have slammed the video as sexist. Days later, Ruiz surfaced again in a commercial for Ryan Reynolds‘ Aviation Gin company, which appeared to be a response to the controversial ad.
Ruiz has acted in a few commercials in the past, including ads for Lee Jeans and Herbal Essences. She made her onscreen TV acting debut in 2009 with a small role on an episode of BET’s The Game. In recent years, she had an uncredited role in the comedy movie Let’s Be Cops and also appeared on the shows About a Boy, ABC Family’s Baby Daddy and The Exes.
Ruiz has not commented on the backlash over the Peloton ad.
“We constantly hear from our members how their lives have been meaningfully and positively impacted after purchasing or being gifted a Peloton Bike or Tread, often in ways that surprise them,” a Peloton spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. “Our holiday spot was created to that fitness and wellness journey.”
“While we’re disappointed in how some have misinterpreted this commercial, we are encouraged by—and grateful for—the outpouring of support we’ve received from those who understand what we were trying to communicate,” the spokesperson said.
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