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Alo Yoga Faces Discrimination Lawsuit for Age Bias Allegations From Star Instructor

Alo Yoga, the multibillion-dollar Los Angeles athleisure and wellness retailer, is under fire after one of its most visible instructors, Briohny Smyth, filed a 58-page lawsuit alleging age discrimination, wrongful termination, unfair competition, and unlawful employment practices.

Published: Sep 25, 2025 6:59 AM

By Jeanel Alvarado

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Alo Yoga Faces Discrimination Lawsuit for Age Bias Allegations From Star Instructor

Alo Yoga, the multibillion-dollar Los Angeles athleisure and wellness retailer, is under fire after one of its most visible instructors, Briohny Smyth, filed a 58-page lawsuit alleging age discrimination, wrongful termination, unfair competition, and unlawful employment practices.

The Lawsuit of “Alo Aesthetic” Over Inclusion? Filed in a Los Angeles court in August 2025, the complaint claims Smyth was pushed out after turning 40—despite being one of Alo Moves’ top draws and a core architect of the brand’s digital fitness rise.

Smyth’s classes regularly drew millions of views, and she earned between $70,000 and $100,000 per year plus bonuses. But after turning 40, her base pay was slashed, bonuses were halved, and by February 2025, Smyth was terminated.

Her attorneys argue that Alo’s stated shift to focusing on different things was a coded message: she no longer had the Alo aesthetic, a euphemism for being too old, despite her physically fit middle-aged status.

Attorney Reaction: Calling Out Corporate Hypocrisy Keith Wesley, managing partner at Ellis George LLP and Smyth’s attorney, issued a direct statement: “Briohny Smyth is an icon in the yoga community…

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Alo Yoga Faces Discrimination Lawsuit for Age Bias Allegations From Star Instructor

Alo Yoga, the multibillion-dollar Los Angeles athleisure and wellness retailer, is under fire after one of its most visible instructors, Briohny Smyth, filed a 58-page lawsuit alleging age discrimination, wrongful termination, unfair competition, and unlawful employment practices.

Unlock the rest of this story

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