Apple‘s Vice President of Fitness Technologies, Jay Blahnik, would be facing a withering cross-examination. Accusations have surfaced that he created a hostile public workplace environment and engaged in sexual harassment. Blahnik has been instrumental in the meteoric success of the Apple Watch and the new Fitness+ subscription service. Since arriving at Apple in 2013, he’s proven to be a key player in the company’s success. His work, especially to create the popular tagline “Close Your Rings,” has shaped how users interact with fitness technology in a big way.
The allegations against Blahnik have surfaced as more than 10% of his team, comprising over 100 members, sought extended leaves since 2022, citing mental health and medical concerns. This shocking statistic makes us wonder what kind of workplace culture props up Blahnik’s leadership. In response the company moved fast. In response to our story, they denied allegations of a toxic workplace culture or harassment toward him.
Background on Jay Blahnik
Blahnik’s professional legacy started off at Nike, where he earned his stripes eventually moving on to Apple. He was instrumental in creating the Fitness+ service that the tech giant rolled out in late 2020. Since then, he has been relentless about improving the Activity Rings feature to help people maintain and see their fitness progress. In addition to his past experience with wearables, the Apple Watch and Fitness+ are now commercial successes under his stewardship.
Even with these historic accomplishments, outlets such as Politico have recently reported that a toxic work culture still likely pervades his team. In recent weeks, former employees have started to speak out, and their stories are deeply troubling. Kayla Desautels, our former social media coordinator said,
“I have never worked anywhere more toxic.” – Kayla Desautels
This sentiment reflects the concerns of others who call Blahnik’s management style “verbally abusive, manipulative and inappropriate.”
Allegations and Employee Feedback
The allegations against Blahnik further include creation of a hostile work environment. Given the reporting we’ve seen so far, employees are clearly being pressured into longer periods of leave. This stems from stress and mental health crises associated with their negative occupational experiences. The mere filing of more than ten workers seeking this leave should raise alarm bells about the company’s internal culture.
In truth of the matter to these allegations, Apple had decided to dance all around the wrongdoing it stands accused of. The company insists that in spite of this it has always been committed to providing an inclusive workplace for its employees. Nonetheless, the claims point to troubling, and potentially dangerous, shortcomings in team culture that deserve further investigation.
“verbally abusive, manipulative and inappropriate” – [“The New York Times” – https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/technology/apple-fitness-jay-blahnik.html]
The Impact on Apple’s Image
As Blahnik remains at the helm of Apple’s fitness initiatives, the allegations could have broader implications for the company’s reputation. The juxtaposition of innovative advancements in fitness technology against claims of a toxic workplace poses challenges for Apple in maintaining its public image.
The oversight of Blahnik’s leadership will be important in not only protecting the morale of current employees, but in bolstering recruitment efforts in the future. Apple is advancing health and wellness through technology. Amid these allegations, the company’s professed commitment to developing an inclusive corporate culture will become increasingly difficult to hold up under scrutiny.
