7 days ago
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.
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'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.
