Apple, renowned for its sleek devices and carefully cultivated image, now faces mounting scrutiny over the culture within one of its most celebrated divisions. On August 21, 2025, The New York Times published a report that has since rippled through the tech world, detailing serious allegations against Jay Blahnik, the vice president of Fitness Technologies and the creative force behind the Apple Watch’s iconic “Close Your Rings” feature. The accusations have ignited a debate about workplace standards, executive accountability, and the tension between brand protection and employee well-being at one of the world’s most valuable companies.
According to The New York Times, nine current and former Apple employees described Blahnik as presiding over a “toxic work environment.” Their accounts, echoed across multiple outlets, paint a picture of a leader whose “behavior was verbally abusive, manipulative, and inappropriate.” The impact has been profound: since 2022, more than 10 percent of Blahnik’s roughly 100-person team have reportedly taken extended mental health or medical leave, citing the stress and exhaustion caused by his conduct.
“I had never worked anywhere more toxic,” said Kayla Desautels, the team’s former social media coordinator, who left Apple after a mental health leave. Her sentiment is shared by others who either left the company or stepped away temporarily, seeking relief from what they described as a relentless and damaging atmosphere.
The allegations are not limited to general claims of toxicity. Employees recounted specific incidents, including inappropriate comments made by Blahnik in professional settings. During a 2021 meeting about a fitness feature involving Olympic skier Ted Ligety, Blahnik allegedly joked about sleeping with the athlete. In another instance, he speculated crudely about the family life of a manager, using vulgar language in front of colleagues. Several staff members also reported that Blahnik made lewd remarks about trainers filming workouts, and directed uncomfortable attention—sometimes in the form of unsettling late-night texts—toward subordinates.
One of the most striking cases involves Wil Tidman, Apple Fitness’s former creative director. In 2022, Blahnik allegedly sent Tidman a text message that Tidman found inappropriate and unsettling. This incident led Tidman to take medical leave and eventually resulted in a settlement with Apple. While Tidman did not file a lawsuit, the episode underscores the seriousness of the concerns raised by employees.
Mandana Mofidi, a former Apple employee who joined the fitness division in 2021, has taken her allegations to court. According to her lawsuit, Mofidi was targeted with negative reviews, intimidation, and retaliation after she cooperated in an internal investigation into Blahnik’s conduct. She claims that the company’s response to her complaints was not only inadequate but actively punitive. “The whole experience was incredibly isolating, humiliating—honestly, scary,” Mofidi said. After her request for a transfer to a different division was denied, she resigned. Her trial against Blahnik and Apple is scheduled for 2027.
Other employees, including Chris Neil and Nathan Olivarez-Giles, reportedly faced similar patterns of retaliation after speaking up about Blahnik’s behavior. Both took mental health leaves before leaving the company, suggesting a broader culture of fear and reprisal within the division.
Apple’s official response to these allegations has been sharply defensive. Lance Lin, an Apple spokesperson, stated, “We strongly disagree with the premise of this story, and there are many inaccurate claims and mischaracterizations.” Lin emphasized that Apple takes “all concerns seriously” and is “deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace.” However, the company has not specified which claims it considers inaccurate, nor has it publicly disclosed any disciplinary action taken against Blahnik. In legal filings, Apple denied that there had been “harassment, discrimination, retaliation or any other harm,” insisting that feedback provided to employees like Mofidi was based on “a well-documented history of unresolved performance issues.”
Despite the mounting accounts from employees, Blahnik himself has not commented publicly. He remains in his role as head of Fitness Technologies, overseeing initiatives central to Apple’s health and wellness strategy, including the Apple Fitness+ subscription service launched in 2020. Under Blahnik’s leadership, Fitness+ has expanded to offer a wide range of workout videos and audio workouts, becoming a cornerstone of Apple’s services business.
The controversy comes at a pivotal moment for Apple, as the company pushes deeper into health and fitness technology—a sector that has become integral to the Apple Watch’s success and Apple’s broader ambitions. While Blahnik’s contributions to the brand are undeniable, the accusations have raised uncomfortable questions: How does Apple handle internal complaints when a high-profile executive is involved? Is the company more invested in protecting its image than in addressing the concerns of rank-and-file workers?
Some observers see the situation as emblematic of a broader challenge facing major tech firms: the struggle to balance innovation and star power with the need for a healthy, respectful workplace. The fact that Apple has previously settled at least one harassment-related complaint tied to Blahnik, and that it is now preparing for a high-profile trial in 2027, suggests that the company’s internal mechanisms for resolving such disputes may be under strain.
Legal experts note that Mofidi’s claims of retaliation, if proven, could have significant implications for Apple’s reputation and its obligations under employment law. Her lawyers argue that it is unlawful to retaliate against employees who speak to human resources about an employment complaint—a standard that will be tested in court. Meanwhile, Apple maintains that its internal reviews found “no evidence of wrongdoing” and that it thoroughly investigates all workplace issues.
The allegations against Blahnik have also prompted soul-searching among current and former employees about the culture at Apple. As one former staffer put it, “At the end of the day, we don’t matter.” For a company that prides itself on innovation and user experience, the disconnect between public image and internal reality could not be starker.
As the story unfolds, the tech world will be watching closely to see how Apple navigates these turbulent waters. The outcome may well shape not just the future of its fitness division, but the company’s broader approach to leadership, accountability, and the well-being of its workforce.
For now, the questions linger: Can Apple reconcile its brand with the lived experiences of its employees? And what happens when the drive for excellence collides with the basic human need for respect and dignity at work?
