How a SoulCycle instructor got the vaccine

After [reporting on SoulCycle](, the once-glamorous spin class for the rich and beautiful, for a few months and talking to former instructors and employees, I thought I'd never be surprised again. I heard stories about how instructors could make over $1,000 for 45 minutes, and how they would get invited to vacation homes. Riders would bribe their way into the most popular classes using gift cards, handbags, champagne. Money and access were everything. Somehow, though, I was still surprised when I heard that Stacey Griffith, a master instructor and one of the most popular teachers in the company, found herself in the middle of a controversy after posting on Instagram that [she had gotten the vaccine as an “educator.”]( The backlash was swift and painful. SoulCycle being a touchstone and punchline for the affluent and privileged no doubt spurred the backlash. But the scandal also brought to light just how awful the US vaccine rollout has been, and underscored the reality that if you’re rich, famous, and well-connected, the rules often don’t apply to you. —[Alex Abad-Santos](, senior correspondent for The Goods A SoulCycle instructor got a vaccine for being an “educator.” Now she’s in trouble. [A woman crouching on a bike's handlebars]( Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for American Express [Stacey Griffith]( has been a star SoulCycle instructor for over a decade. For 45 minutes at a time, she teaches her riders how to ride on the beat, how to turn a knob that increases the resistance they’re pushing against, and how to “[find their passion and purpose](” on bikes that go nowhere. Her classes are legendary, selling out time after time, making her reportedly the most handsomely paid SoulCycle instructor in the company, at $800 per class. And on Friday, she says she used those credentials to score her first jab of the Moderna vaccine. [Read the full story ]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( WallStreetBets is America WallStreetBets has its own language. It says a lot about American masculinity. [Read the full story ]( The frustrating reality of having vaccine-hesitant family members Some think misinformation contributed to their families’ skepticism about the Covid-19 vaccine. [Read the full story ]( Vox Quick Hits A sexy boutique spin class. Glamorous, badly behaved instructors, and wealthy, spoiled clientele. A failed IPO, shuttering studios, and layoffs. On What's the Story, Allegra Frank talks to senior correspondent Alex Abad-Santos about [the rise and fall of SoulCycle](. More good stuff to read today - [The best $85 I ever spent: Nursing bras that actually worked]( - [The pandemic’s lasting effects on young medical workers]( - [How a bunch of Redditors made GameStop’s stock soar]( - [How 1-800-Flowers.com became one of the biggest, clunkiest names in Valentine’s Day gifts]( - [The best face mask is one that fits]( - [A different kind of room service]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences](, or [unsubscribe]( to stop receiving all emails from Vox. If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Policy]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.