Celebrity fitness group under fire for using Kenyan tribesmen as 'props'

The founder of an “exclusive” fitness group, has been forced to apologise after being accused of using local Kenyan tribesmen as “props” for Instagram posts.

Russell Bateman, the founder of Skinny B*tch Collective – whose A-list clients include Ellie Goulding and model Suki Waterhouse – came under fire for posting about a recent fitness retreat, where women were seen doing various exercises around and inbetween Maasai tribe members.

Diet Prada, an Instagram account with over 1.2 million followers, called out Bateman and his “invite-only fitness collective” for using local tribes people local as a “backdrop” and “literal props”, reposting images and videos from the retreat.

“It’s 2019 and apparently people still haven’t learned that POC/ethnic groups don’t exist to embellish already privileged lives,” the account said. “The Colonial mindset is alive and well I guess…”

Bateman apologised on the fitness group’s Instagram account – which he has since made private – insisting the intention of the retreat was to “promote a cross-cultural exchange through shared experiences”.

“However, having taken a step back, we accept and understand that out content fell well short of this aim, and lacked appropriate cultural sensitivity by reinforcing colonial era depictions of people of colour,” the apology continued.

In some of the photos and videos reposted by Diet Prada, the women on the fitness retreat are seen weaving in and out of the locals who appear to act as markers.

While in another video they jump along to the beat of the exercise the women are doing.

Some A-list celebs, including Bella and Gigi Hadid, commented on the post expressing their disgust at the retreat.

“This actually makes me sick to my stomach,” Bella wrote.

“What the f**k?! Shameful,” added Gigi.

The account also reposted a comment from Instagram user, Tracy Njeri, who said the whole retreat and practice “ridiculed” the Kenyan locals who were “relegated to play in the background”.

“As an African woman I am tired of seeing my people relegated to play in the background,” she said.

“As a Kenyan woman it enrages me to see my people being used as PROPS, being ridiculed in his posts, being used to be their personal ‘cheerleaders’ asking them to perform their traditional jump/dance to add to the ‘atmosphere’ of their workouts.”

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