Radar Online is running a story claiming that Amy Schumer pulled the “don’t you know who I am” card at an Equinox gym in New York City. The way Radar tells it, the staff refused to let her in, despite the fact that she’s a member, when she couldn’t produce her gym card. Instead of looking her up in the system, they tried to turn her away (at least that’s what I’m reading into this brief story) and she got pissed off and told them she’s famous and that they should know who she is.
Amy Schumer threw a “massive fit” in a lux Equinox gym on New York City’s Upper West Side Monday, RadarOnline.com can exclusively reveal.
The trouble began when the actress forgot her membership card. An employee turned her away, reminding her she needed a card for entrance— which left the 34-year-old in a rage.
“She threw a massive fit,” an eyewitness tells Radar. “She screamed, ‘I know you know who I am, I’m famous!’”
Then, the onlooker claims, the hard-partying star left the upscale fitness center in a tizzy.
“She stormed out,” the source says. “No joke!”
I checked Schumer’s Twitter and she hasn’t posted a clever retort so she probably hasn’t had a whiff of this story yet. If this happened the way Radar is claiming, I really don’t blame her for getting mad. I’m not proud of it, but I did something similar when a snotty ass clerk at a DVD store wouldn’t let me take out a video with a card in my husband’s name. (I had ID and offered to show it and we have the same last name.) I went off on the guy, not specifically because he said no, I can understand if that’s their policy, but because he was so rude to me about it. Schumer was probably all ready to go to the gym and had all her stuff packed and with her, she likely had ID on her, and even if she didn’t they should have been able to look her up in the system by her last name. It sounds like a douche move to say “I’m famous, you know me,” but they were turning her away. I would use that card if it was mine to play.
Schumer should quit Equinox and join New York Sports Club. They have more locations, the people are nicer, and it’s about $100 cheaper a month. Of course she can afford the pricier club, but if they’re going to be jerks to her why should she continue to give them business?
After I wrote all that, I found a different account of this same exchange. Page Six reports that Amy tried to walk past the desk without checking in, which is completely different than getting pissed off for not being let in without a card. A source told the NY Post:
“She felt entitled to just walk in,” a source explained to Page Six. “She didn’t want to show her key fob and wanted to be able to go in and not be questioned.”
We’re told the annoyed “Trainwreck” star declared, “I’m famous” when employees didn’t recognize her and insisted she go through the typical check-in procedure.
“It was clear that Amy wanted to go in under the radar and not even stop to have the desk clerk look up her account on a computer,” said the source.
A spokesperson for Equinox denied reports that the comedian had a meltdown and insisted the interaction was “simply a back-and-forth with staffers who didn’t immediately know who she was.”
While Equinox “believes” Schumer eventually enjoyed her workout on Monday afternoon, our source said, “She was so unhappy she stormed off.”
Ok, that’s bad behavior, but we don’t know what staff said to her first or if she’s been going to that same place for months and thought the clerk knew her from the gym, too. I still think she should quit Equinox and join a different gym (I mean NYSC was the best one I could afford, and I loved it there, but there are surely better gyms), especially if Equinox staff are the ones leaking information to the tabloids. She should scan her card at the entrance and not walk in like she owns the place, though.
Update: Both Div and Luca76 have commented about Equinox’s reputation of terrible customer service. Div wrote that they have a friend who was a trainer at Equinox: “she used to tell me stories about how rude some of her co-workers and the general staff were and how often there was a snobby and sometimes racist vibe. Maybe it was just that one location, but I heard so many horror stories and witnessed a little snotty behavior at a different location where I was briefly a member.”
Amy Schumer is shown on 11-15-15 with her sister, Kimberly, and on 11-9-15. They’re so cute together! Credit: Pacific Coast News and WENN.com
There are probably bits of truth thrown in the story somewhere. Radar has a knack of tossing a few little half truths in somewhere from “inside sources.” Who knows. Everyone gets angry, but I just can’t envision Amy using the I’m famous card, particularly at a gym, not like she was looking for a good table at a restaurant.
What really happened is she gave her key fob to her sister, who checked in first under Amy’s membership, then Amy tried to sneak in but they wouldn’t let her through without scanning in and the jig was up, so she blew up then bolted. Maybe.
Just want to respond to the comment about Equinox’ customer service- I have been a member in LA for 6 years and at each location (West LA, Westwood, Irvine) the staff has always been Wonderful. They are kind and funny and know my name, and I am NOT famous). Not sure what goes on in NY, but in LA, Equinox and its staff is AMAZING!
Obnoxious. Swipe in like everybody else. You might be famous but does that make you a member? I go to the same equinox for over ten years and I know everyone on the front desk and I swipe in. I’m sure they track that stuff for planning purposes.
I love equinox because it’s so freaking clean. I am spoiled for life, other gyms even super exclusive ones, smell like sweat. Equinox smells like eucalyptus and fresh air. Love it.
Exactly. When I lived in NY I was a member there loved it. Yes swipe like the others. Or she should join one that has a pin code. Yes it’s clean too my husband said (non gym goer) it reminded him of a Drs office.
Yes, but apparently it is better to suggest that the people who work there are rude and possibly racist, than admit that an in favor celebrity might be obnoxious when dealing with underlings.
“the annoyed “Trainwreck” star”
LOL.
So many excuses.. It’s because Amy is likeable (although I don’t really like her)
If this was a story about Charlize, Chelsea Handler or Reese Witherspoon (ok I’m reaching) then no excuse in the world would be valid for this behaviour. We would all just believe it, right? Right.
I don’t know. My friend was a trainer at an Equinox gym and she used to tell me stories about how rude some of her co-workers and the general staff were and how often there was a snobby and sometimes racist vibe. Maybe it was just that one location, but I heard so many horror stories and witnessed a little snotty behavior at a different location where I was briefly a member. Basically, I don’t have a hard time believing the staff could be really rude. Not that her throwing a fit is appropriate, but I could see it being exaggerated on both sides where they were rude and she was kind of rude back.
I used to live in Connecticut near NYC, where we had a NYSC, and I had the membership where I could go anywhere. The people at every location I went to were always friendly and helpful. Whenever I would go into the city I would schedule a workout or class in and I never had a bad experience. I also worked out with them in Boston when I was up there and it was the same thing, always great. I can believe that Equinox is different and that they have issues with customer service.
Equinox has an awful reputation. I’ve known quite a few people that have worked there and it’s not a great place which usually translates to terrible customer service. NYSC is great and convenient but probably not posh enough for a celebrity.
Thanks Luca and Div. I’m going to update with this about Equinox’s reputation.
good to know, pulling the “i am famous” card is still a no go.
Don’t worry, she hasn’t been around long. Give it a bit longer, the honeymoon will be over and everything that people now see as daring and quirky will be interpreted as arrogant and self serving. At that point everything she does will be represented in a negative way and she will be routinely trashed on the gossip sites. The good news is that only a tiny fraction of film goers will be aware of this and so it will have no impact on her career.
I’m surprised by everyone saying they don’t believe it of her. The fact is that none of us know anything about these people except what they project. Most famous people are narcissistic and self-important. You almost have to be to put up with the rejection that comes with trying to make it. So, yeah, this is plausible that she got upset that someone dared not recognize her.
I don’t like Amy but I can’t see her pulling a stunt like this. As harsh as it sounds, Amy can look a little “trashy” at times and I could see the Equinox staff (which can be notoriously snotty) saying something like “I’m too busy/or I can’t look you up in the system if you don’t have your card.”
Maybe she will demand they are sacked?
It’s to the discretion of the staffer. Whatevs. Let it slide off and know it’s a funny story later. She prob did say that and it was probably hilarious! Want to watch the the footage fromthe gyn cam
I can’t imagine Amy is the type to pull the “Do you know who I am?” card. I’ve lost a key chain card when I went to the gym. They just looked me up in the system, asked a couple of questions and gave me a new card. I don’t know why that wasn’t done.
That’s why I’m going with page 6 version. It’s really easy to look someone up, equinox even uses member photos to prevent sharing so she wouldn’t even need ID. I think she just couldn’t be bothered and tried to breeze in like she’s SUPER famous. I wouldn’t recognize her on the next treadmill.
She’s wiser than ‘i’m famous’ bs. At least i hope she is. She seems pretty down to earth.
It sounds like everybody handled this with charm and grace. Sometimes, despite your best effort, things can go downhill very rapidly. In this situation, it’s the job of the front desk to make sure everybody checks in, but they shouldn’t be rude about it. She should be able to get in even if she forgot her card, but she shouldn’t think she doesn’t have to check in like everyone else. It seems like they were all in bad moods.
Why is everyone rushing to give Schumer the benefit of the doubt? I’m inclined to believe the hissy fit. Not because I don’t like her, but because she IS famous, and fame changes people long before they themselves notice.
I just don’t think it’s that big of a deal if it is true. It’s not like she stiffed someone on a tip. Everyone has had a similar frustrating moment. Also, she’s not tied to likeability the way many female celebrities are. She frequently plays an ass.
I’m also inclined to believe it. Her humor has a lot of bitterness or anger in it…not surprising that she could have a lot of anger. When she goes on about how easy it is to get guys now, yeah there’s a bit of narcissism in that…not surprising that she could be a bit entitled. And, she just seems like a mean girl to me, it’s a vibe I get.
I think because we haven’t heard other stories like this about her before, coupled with the fact that the gym apparently doesn’t have the best reputation. I tend to assume pretty much everything is idle gossip until you hear in from a couple different sources.
I can picture her saying this line as a joke, but it does sound like bad customer service + maybe Amy had a little ‘tude on her. This would probably never happen in L.A., NY is way less cowtowing to celebs, low level employees everywhere in NY think they are hot sh*t and this gym sounds snooty. I’m sure we’ll hear her side, but honestly, sounds overblown.
My husband works at an Equinox (different location). I don’t think the gym is snobby and they treat members really well. But the gym is meant to exclusive so the rich or famous can work out in peace. It’s policy to make everyone check in for that reason. Granted if she forgot her pass they should look her up, but it sounds like they asked for her name to do just that and she freaked out.
I agree that there’s nothing wrong with asking people to check in at a gym. The need to know who’s in there for lots of reasons.
I would think most gyms would be able to look you up and check your photo. To me there is no reason there should not have been let in for forgetting her card.
for the $ you pay to go to Equinox, I feel like this kind of story shouldn’t be leaked and it reflects badly on Equinox. I can see Amy being like, “F*ck I don’t have my card or ID, you really can’t make an exception this one time because I really just want to get in and out.”
Equinox is overpriced and pretentious and according to an instructor I know who teaches there, the classes suck because the members don’t want to sweat.
NYSC is known for locker room theft. I go to New York Health and Racquet Club. Priced midway between Equinox and NYSC it has more of a local feel and great instructors.
True we did have a locker theft issue in NYSC even in Stamford. This only happened once in the several years I was a member though.
What a coincidence, I was living in Stamford just a short while ago.
So, Radar had one story and Equinox PR went with another story to Page Six. That is what I got from this. Ahhhh, 1% problems.
Also, don’t most gyms have cameras at the entrance for security reasons. If so, I smell a ‘leak’ coming.
So what’s more likely – snooty gym has employee that doesn’t feel like looking someone up to let them in without a card, or comedian who *just* hit it big sashays in with her diva face on and refuses to check in for the little people?
Amy’s massive fit won over the huffiness of the staff and the episode became a STORY.
I worked at Equinox for 6 years at 4 different locations, and this makes me laugh. Dance students and college kids usually work the front desk, and they usually don’t give any attitude. I just want to say I loved working there and the facilities are AMAZING and the classes and training are the best in the fitness industry. Management, maintenance and customer service were always on point. I’d be really surprised if she left because the front desk was rude to her. However, they are very strict with checking in members. It’s their job to not let anyone slip through the cracks.
I feel like we’re making excuses for Amy’s behavior/role in this situation. If the Page Six story IS true, I can’t see how no one would have a problem with an entitled person thinking she could just walk in because she does standup and had a popular summer movie. Nothing irks me more when it comes to celebrities than the “don’t you know who I am?” line.
Ew.
The key word being “If”. Something anonymously sourced, printed on 2 gossip sites that aren’t historically that picky about facts – it’s not exactly a slam dunk. Even more so because the Page Six version was pretty clearly directly from the Equinox rep; the first one just sounded like Schumer was pissed that they wouldn’t look up her account info to let her in without the card.
I am in the minority here, as I don’t like Amy in the least. I don’t find her charming, funny or witty. She comes across as a bit of a jerk to me. I think that perhaps she could’ve been rude and perhaps the staff could’ve been uber insistent that she follow the rules, which peeved her a bit.
I honestly don’t get the hype over Amy. She’s mildy funny I guess and I totally see her throwing a tantrum. I just don’t really see her as the fun easy going persona she’s trying to portray on the regular. I largely see it as an act.
I am most surprised that Amy even goes to a Gym ….. her body appears to spend most of it’s time at Häagen-Dazs
It’s funny because those gyms are all about their celebs clients: my fancy ass friend goes to the Equinox on Prince St. they are also really zealous at protecting their celebrity clients: the other clients are asked not to disturb them or ask for pics or autographs. And being Soho she told me she sees a bunch of them: Naomi Watts, Sienna Miller, Robin Wright are the ones she sees often: they seem to be pretty much chill and do their thing, often with their personal trainer, trying to make no eye contact and leave. So I feel that that poor employee really didn’t recognizer Amy, or knew who she was, otherwise I doubt this would had happened. They know this is a bad publicity for the gym and particularly the celebs that choose them for their celeb friendly attitude.
Sorry, but i think this is nonesense. Im an equinox member and i forget my card all the time. The just look you up by your name and theyre never anything but nice. Now, maybe it’s because they know me, but I feel like Amy is at least as famous as I am.
they shoulda let her fat ass in for free