LA woman grabs 2 tampons from gym she pays ’90 million dollars a month’ to attend. Then a worker steps in: ‘Do you want to come in the stall with me?’

Nothing says “luxury gym experience” quite like getting treated like a tampon criminal in the locker room.

One woman says her workout took a bizarre turn when she grabbed two complimentary tampons from the communal basket. After all, it’s there for the members. However, before she could even walk to the stall, she was immediately stopped by an employee.

Apparently, the tampon police have some strict rules. Now she’s left wondering why she pays so much money monthly only to be refused bad-quality menstrual products when she needs them.

What Happened At This Gym?

TikTok-famous and YouTuber Vanilla (@deffnotvanilla) has taken to one of her TikTok accounts to share her recent encounter at the gym. In just four days, it gained almost 2 million views and over 1,200 comments.

For background information, Vanilla shares that she had just started her period that day. In addition to that, she makes a quip about how she feels like she pays “90 million” a month to the gym, signaling that she finds it expensive.

For what it’s worth, the gym provides complementary items to women, such as panty liners, pads, razors, and shower caps. It’s when she goes to grab the tampons that’s when she gets called out.

What Did They Tell Her?

Vanilla first makes sure to emphasize that, firstly, she only grabbed two tampons, and secondly, she could tell it was the very cheap kind. As she goes to place them in her pouch, a female employee starts scolding her.

Vanilla shares that the woman started adamantly shaking her head and kept saying “tampons are for here only,” as if insinuating that Vanilla was trying to hoard them since they’re free.

“Mind you, I haven’t even walked past the bathroom yet,” says Vanilla. “You don’t know where I’m going with this tampon.” She again emphasizes that the tampons are cheaply made, saying the employee was scolding her over “25-cent” tampons. 

Not knowing how to react, Vanilla says she just started laughing and placed the tampons back where she got them.

“I can’t even have one? Dang,” she laughs. Despite her easygoing reaction, Vanilla says that next time she won’t acquiesce so easily. She admits she wanted one “to-go” and finds it silly she couldn’t do that. 

What Gym is It?

Even though Vanilla herself didn’t say the name, many viewers are speculating, and some claim they even know the answer. When researching which gyms in the USA provide free menstrual products, the top two are Lifetime Fitness and Equinox.

Monthly membership costs vary for Lifetime Fitness, as it depends on age, location, and amenities preferred. However, Pop Sugar reported on all the tiers available, highlighting its “Signature Membership” from $179 to $329. Equinox also depends on tier, location, and amenities. Its range is $265 to $415. One viewer speculates Vanilla has the former membership, saying, “I’m crying you’re 1000% talking about Lifetime because I cry everytime I see $170 withdrawal from my bank.” 

@deffnotvanilla

Tampon gate

♬ original sound – deffnotvanilla

How Did Viewers React? 

Many viewers are simply perplexed by the employee’s logic. “So you have to put it in at the start and take it out when you leave?” asks one viewer.

A second one says, “‘For here only’ like it’s a restaurant or something.” 

“It would be more reasonable if the employee said ‘only take one please’ instead of ‘they’re for here only.’ Like is it disintegrating as soon as you step off the premises or something?” claims a third.

Others call out the rip-off. “The idea of charging for microscopic flimsy period products is crazy when you already pay membership…what happened to providing for customers,” rants one viewer.

Another says, “The way I’d actually write a strongly worded email to management lol.” 

Lastly, one says, “Mind you they should be free regardless.”

The Mary Sue reached out to Vanilla via TikTok direct message.

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