Apple Fitness chief to step down following harassment claims
What's the story
Apple has announced that Jay Blahnik, Vice President of Fitness Technologies, will retire in July after a 13-year tenure with the company. The decision comes amid allegations of creating a toxic work environment and sexually harassing an employee. In an email to employees this week, Apple confirmed that Blahnik will retire in July to spend time with his family and make an exciting move to New York City, The New York Times reports.
Career journey
Blahnik's career at Apple
Blahnik joined Apple in 2013 after spending two decades as a consultant at Nike. He was instrumental in designing the Apple Watch's famous Activity rings, which encourage users to exercise, stand, and burn calories daily. Later on, he led the Fitness+ team, Apple's subscription-based workout service with video classes for strength work, HIIT cycling meditation yoga among others.
Misconduct claims
Accusations of verbal abuse and manipulation
Despite his contributions, Blahnik's leadership of the Fitness+ team has been marred by serious complaints. In August 2025, The New York Times reported that nine current and former employees had accused him of being "verbally abusive, manipulative, and inappropriate." Since 2022, more than 10 employees on his team had sought extended mental health or medical leaves.
Internal investigation
Investigation cleared Blahnik of any wrongdoing
When employees raised concerns about Blahnik's conduct, Apple launched an internal investigation but found no evidence of wrongdoing. As a result, he remained in his role. Apple spokesperson Lance Lin had called The New York Times report full of "many inaccurate claims and mischaracterizations," without specifying which claims were disputed by the company.
Ongoing lawsuits
Apple's response to lawsuits and the future of Fitness+
Apple has settled one complaint alleging sexual harassment by Blahnik. The company is also defending him in a separate lawsuit filed by employee Mandana Mofidi, who accused him of bullying. That case is scheduled for trial next year. As for the future of Fitness+, Bloomberg reports that services chief Eddy Cue is "considering changes" to the service.