Latest news with #KelseyWells
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Sweat App's founding trainer announces sudden departure
Kelsey Wells, one of the most beloved trainers on Kayla Itsines' Sweat app, has announced her sudden departure after nearly a decade with the platform. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Wells shared her decision with her followers, marking the end of an era for both herself and the Sweat community. 'After nearly nine years, I have chosen to leave Sweat,' the 35-year-old told her three million followers on Sunday night. 'As of June 1, 2025, I am no longer continuing my career as a Sweat trainer. 'As one of Sweat's founding trainers and after pouring so much of myself and my heart into every single one of my 15 strength training programs — from the exercise science framework to the intention filled messaging behind the launch of every single one of them — this is not a decision I make lightly. 'I am no longer creating content or programming for or with that company.' The farewell announcement She then went on to say that there was much she wanted to express, but 'cannot say', before sharing her deep gratitude for particular people. 'To my husband and my Sonshine. For the magnitude of silent sacrifices you selflessly made to support me every single day,' she wrote. 'To each of the good humans I have met and worked with along my way — thank you for treating me with kindness and respect. 'To the others I have worked with — thank you, too. For (however unintentionally) helping me learn hard truths and creating opportunity for me to grow.' Notably, she did not mention her boss, Sweat co-founder, Kayla Itsines. She did, however, thank all the women who have done her programs, saying she was 'deeply honoured' to have been their trainer. 'My heart aches right now, but I am not done showing up and being here for you,' she wrote. 'Please, never ever give up on caring for yourself and your health, and prioritising your mental wellbeing and authenticity above all else. 'I will be doing the same.' Speaking to Wells said, 'I am optimistic about my future and more passionate than ever about my mission to empower women and reinforce the importance of the connection between physical and mental health'. Fans respond to 'pointed' message Wells' post was met with an outpouring of support from fans and fellow trainers. Ex-Sweat trainer Chontel Duncan commented on the post: 'Your next chapter will be nothing short of amazing. Looking forward to seeing what's next'. Another ex-Sweat trainer, Cass Olholm replied: 'I know that whatever chapter comes next, you'll continue to positively impact everyone your love and light touches'. Then, Itsines commented, saying: 'Kels. It's been an honour to work alongside you and watch your impact grow over the past 10 years! Your story, passion, and dedication have inspired women all over the world. 'We are excited for you and what you have planned next :) I know SO many women will continue to be empowered by your message'. In addition to not thanking Itsines in her post, Wells also didn't 'like' or respond to Itsines' comment. Another user commented: 'It's a real shame to see so many of the OG trainers move on from Sweat … makes me wonder what Sweat is doing as a company as part of this turnover culture'. Wells liked this comment. This subtle move did not go unnoticed by the Sweat community, with many fans speculating about the nature of her departure. 'It really speaks volumes that she liked this comment and not Kayla's original comment,' said one user. 'This is concerning and makes me want answers,' another wrote. Others claimed the 'pointed' wording of Wells' post made them believe the resignation might not have been all that amicable. 'The way I read this post sounds like something happened,' admitted one. 'The way she said 'THAT' company…,' said someone else. 'Why does this give me a weird sense of bitterness?' another asked. Then a different commenter described the post as a 'respectful and polite way to throw shade'. At the same time, some fans of the cult fitness app claimed that Wells' programs were the only reason they were still subscribed to the app, promising to cancel their subscriptions once Wells' programs were taken off the app. Her programs still appear to be live on Sweat. What is Sweat? The Sweat app was co-founded by Kayla Itsines and Tobi Pearce in 2015 and quickly became one of the most popular digital fitness platforms for women. The app offers a range of workout programs led by top trainers, with a strong focus on community and results. Its annual subscription revenue exceeds $100 million, according to reports, and it has been downloaded over 30 million times with 450,000 paid subscribers. Itsines co-founded the app with her then romantic partner, Pearce. The couple broke up in 2020 but continued their professional relationship. They sold Sweat to US tech company IFit in 2021 for a reported $400 million and are believed to have bought it back for a fraction of that price in 2023. A pattern of trainer departures Much of the app's success is down to its highly personable trainers, who often have millions of devoted followers and steer people toward the app. However, over the past few years, many of these trainers have left the platform, including Chontel Duncan, Sara Colquhoun, Stephanie Sanzo, and Cass Olholm. In November 2022, Sara Colquhoun, one of Sweat's pilates instructors, announced she was leaving but said it was an 'amicable' decision on Instagram. She is set to launch her own pilates program, Pilates Obsession, this year. Chontel Duncan, who has over 1.2 million followers, announced her departure a month later in December 2022, calling her time at Sweat 'a rewarding and fulfilling experience'. 'I want to thank you, @kaylaitsines, for the opportunity to work with your company and for being such an incredible friend,' she wrote in her post. She then went on to launch Neuform, her own fitness app, in June 2024. Trainer Stephanie Sanzo, who has 3.4 million followers, also left the company around the same time after joining in 2019, to focus on her own platform, Liftit. Neither she nor Sweat made a public announcement about the departure, with the fitness app simply changing her name on her programs to 'Trainer'. In February 2023, Cass Olholm, a weightlifting coach with 363,000 followers, also left the company after joining on a three-year contract in 2020. She then won a court case against Sweat, which tried to prevent her from launching her own app, Train with Cass, claiming it would divert up to $1 million of revenue away from Sweat and breached a 12-month non-compete clause. Why has this happened? It remains unclear what has led to the succession of trainers leaving the app, most recently, Wells. However, in recent years, there have been several controversies involving Sweat and Itsines. The fitness guru and her app have faced criticism from users for being expensive ($19.99/month), glitchy, and difficult to cancel memberships. After selling the company to iFit, she received further negative press when 30 staff members reportedly lost their jobs, according to The Advertiser. The 2023 legal battle with Olholm, a former close collaborator and friend, only added to the changing perceptions of the fitness mogul. Then in February 2025, Itsines found herself in another PR storm after making a video criticising what she described as 'highly sexualised' gym content on social media. She called out her disappointment at fitness influencers who pose and film workouts from a 'particular angle' under the pretence of a 'glute workout'. She claimed it was a tactic used to gain views and it's 'not something (she or her daughter) wants to see'. While some of her loyal fanbase agreed with her, the video ultimately did not resonate as she had hoped. Many argued that Itsines wasn't immune to 'sexualising' her own content, with some pointing out she shares workout videos in figure-hugging activewear and regularly shows off her abs. In response to the backlash against her viral video, some of the star's former fans began sharing their 'trauma' from following her restrictive guides in the past. They took issue with the fact that she built much of her fortune from her 'Bikini Body' Guides, which launched in 2014 and are sometimes described as 'problematic'. One of her early guides, aimed at women aged 16-25, included sample meal plans that totalled just 1200 calories for those trying to lose weight. 'As the parent of two teenagers, I'd be mortified if I knew they were following this plan. Why did we do it to ourselves?' said one user. During a 2016 interview with Bloomberg, Itsines revealed that she regrets calling her programs the 'bikini body' guides. She explained, 'Do I regret using the term Bikini Body for my guides? Yes, I do. 'That's why when I launched the app, I named it Sweat With Kayla. I love the empowerment that comes with the word 'sweat' – it's really powerful for me'. While the platform remains a leader in digital fitness, the recent exits are just another controversy Sweat will have to deal with.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Kayla Itsines sparks feud rumours as her business partner Kelsey Wells is the latest to quit fitness app Sweat: 'I sense beef between them'
Kayla Itsines and her business partner Kelsey Wells have sparked feud rumours as the former founding trainer at Itsines' company Sweat quits the business. The 35-year-old mother-of-one announced her exit from the fitness app on Sunday in a shock Instagram announcement which left fans wondering what went wrong. While neither Itsines, 34, nor Wells have addressed a potential rift between them, followers flocked to the comments to point out the signs things may have gone sour. Speculation began when Wells first made the announcement she quit Sweat over the weekend. 'After nearly nine years, I have chosen to leave Sweat. As of June 1, 2025, I am no longer continuing my career as a sweat trainer,' she penned. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'As one of sweat's founding trainers and after pouring so much of myself and my heart into every single one of my 15 strength training programs—from the exercise science framework to the intention filled messaging behind the launch of every single one of them—this is not a decision I make lightly,' she continued. 'I am no longer creating content or programming for or with that company.' Kelsey went on to say there were things she wanted to 'express' but was not yet able to tell her followers, alluding to behind-the-scenes details she couldn't talk about. Instead, Kelsey went on to share her 'deep gratitude' for her husband Ryan and their 11-year-old son Anderson, who she called her 'Sonshine'. 'For the magnitude of silent sacrifices you selflessly made to support me every single day. For being my reason and my safe place and my saving grace. For truly everything. I love you,' she wrote. Kelsey then went on to thank the 'good humans' who treated her with 'kindness and respect' and supported her fitness and career goals. 'To the others I have worked with—thank you, too. For (however unintentionally) helping me learn hard truths and creating opportunity for me to grow,' she added. Kelsey finished her lengthy post by thanking all the women she helped train over the years, vowing she will continue to 'show up' for them in the future. 'Please, never ever give up on caring for yourself and your health, and prioritising your mental wellbeing and authenticity above all else. I will be doing the same,' she wrote. Itsines was among the first to comment beneath the post, wishing the best for Wells in her new journey. 'Kels it's been an honour to work alongside you and watch your impact grow over the past 10 years! Your story, passion, and dedication have inspired women all over the world,' she said. 'From launching PWR to becoming a role model for lifting confidence both in and out of the gym, you've helped shape what SWEAT stands for. 'We are excited for you and what you have planned next. I know SO many women will continue to be empowered by your message.' While the message indicated that Itsines and Wells had parted ways on good terms, followers quickly speculated that not everything was as it appeared. '@kayla_itsines it's a real shame to see so many of the OG trainers move on from sweat,' one person pointed out, referring to former Sweat trainers Chontel Duncan, Stephanie Sanzo and Cassie Olholm leaving the company in recent years. 'Amazing to see their personal growth and influence broaden but makes me wonder what sweat is doing as a company as part of this turnover culture.' Notably, Wells liked the comment, but did not like Itsines' original farewell message it was in response to. 'It really speaks volumes that she liked this comment and not Kayla's original comment,' one person noted. Others said: 'The way I read this post sound like something happened. Maybe it was an accumulation of a bunch of small things. But I get the feeling things weren't good.' 'I sense beef between @kayla_itsines and @kelseywells. Someone spill the tea,' wrote another. Wells also went on to like supportive comments left by former Sweat trainers Duncan and Olholm. 'You don't do things in halves my girl and so your next chapter will be nothing short of amazing. Looking forward to seeing what's next,' Duncan wrote. 'You have changed thousands of lives, and I know that whatever chapter comes next, you'll continue to positively impact everyone your love and light touches. Proud of you,' Olholm added. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to representatives of Kayla and Kelsey for comment. Former Sweat trainers Chontel Duncan and Cass Olholm also left messages of support for Wells following their respective departures from the company in 2022 and 2023 Wells and Itsines also still follow each other on Instagram; however, Wells has stopped following the Sweat business account. Duncan left Sweat in December 2022, posting a heartfelt tribute to the company and Itsines, with the former colleagues still following each other on Instagram to this day. Sanzo also left in 2022 to launch her own fitness app, and though she made a quiet exit from the company, she still follows Itsines and the Sweat account online. Meanwhile, Olholm had a very public falling out with Itsines when she left the company in February 2023 and found herself in the midst of a court battle with Itsines. The fitness influencer attempted to block Olholm from launching her own fitness app called Train With Cass, which was set to go live in October 2023. Just like the Sweat With Kayla app, Train With Cass offered a mixture of training videos which paying subscribers could follow from home. Itsines' Bikini Body Training Company was represented in the South Australian Supreme Court by Nicholas Swan at the time, who argued Olholm, represented by Thomas McFarlane, had breached the restraint of trade. Bikini Body wanted Olholm to obey a 12-month restraint of trade clause, which would prohibit her from competing with the company until February 2024. What followed was a lengthy legal battle which dragged on long enough that Olholm was unable to launch her Train With Cass app until January 2024. Itsines founded Sweat with her ex-fiancé Tobi Pearce, who is now her business partner, in 2015, naming the fitness program Body Guide at the time. They went on to sell the platform to US company iFIT for $400million in 2021, following a boom in home exercise when gyms and sports centres closed during the Covid pandemic. However, iFIT struggled to maintain the Sweat brand's success after taking the reins, and posted an $80million write-down after its first year of ownership. As the $20 per month subscriptions began to wane once gyms re-opened, the company continued to bleed millions until Itsines and Pearce took over the business once again in November 2023. Itsines returned to her role as the platform's head trainer while Pearce's focus is on the company's longevity and growth strategy going forward.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Dad cuts son out of £85MILLION inheritance over his ‘lack of achievement' after pair fell out
A LORD stopped his eldest son from taking over his £85million ancestral estate because of his "lack of achievement". The Earl of Yarmouth William Seymour - the eldest of three children - was left out of the fortune after a fallout. 4 He took High Court action against his family over the estate, which included the 400-year-old family seat Ragley Hall, in Warwickshire. The court heard that while he held a "very earnest belief" that the trustees failed in their duties in the way Ragley was run, it was unfounded. The judge said the bad relationship between William and his parents wasn't enough to remove the trustees. Ragley estate, which is 6,500-acres, includes a 110-room mansion, farms, a sprawling woods, and hundreds of acres of parkland. It has been in the Seymour Family for about 400 years, descendant from Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife. The Earl of Yarmouth has been embroiled in the public spat with his family since 2018. The 31-year-old complained that his parents had led him to believe he would take over the running of the estate once he hit 30. William also claimed his parents weren't happy he wanted to marry former Goldman Sachs banker Lady Yarmouth, Kelsey Wells. The court previously heard that William, who was worth £4million at 21, had not been interested in the estate until he met his wife Kelsey. After their marriage, William began complaining about how the estate was being run and argued his wife was being shown "disrespect" for not being invited to the trustee meeting. His father, Lord Hertford, told the court he had planned for his son to take over the estate but changed his mind - believing he was no longer "appropriate" for the job. He said William and Kelsey marrying was not the "main reason" for the decision, but rather his son's "lack of achievement". In evidence, he said: "I am proud of the fact that he went to college but made a mistake at university and didn't graduate", the BBC reported. "William has not followed a profession or obtained qualifications or experience to take over the running of Ragley Hall." The judge ruled that the Lord and Lady Hertford had obviously shown "deep antagonism" towards their daughter-in-law. However, the judge said that the son's dispute as to the way Ragley is run was not well-founded. 4
Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Earl of Yarmouth loses fight to run family seat
The wife of an aristocrat disinherited in a dispute over their marriage has called for a reconciliation to prevent 'intergenerational conflict' after he lost a court case over control of the family's £85 million ancestral estate. The Earl of Yarmouth, William Seymour, took legal action claiming his parents, Lord and Lady Hertford, reneged on an agreement for him to move into Ragley Hall, the family seat, and run the estate when he turned 30. He complained that he was cut off after going against his parents' wishes and marrying Kelsey Wells, a former Goldman Sachs banker, in June 2018. Yarmouth, 31, accused his mother of 'gaslighting' him and claimed his father had tried to halt the marriage. 'Even at the church on my wedding day
