Peloton responds after shocking Sex and the City reboot twist involving death of major character
Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon filming And Just Like That. (Getty)
Sex and the City fans weren’t the only ones shocked by the major death in the premiere of the new reboot series, And Just Like That…
Warning – spoilers follow.
After viewers watched beloved Sex and the City character Mr Big (Chris Noth) die from a sudden heart attack after exercising on his Peloton bike in the first episode of And Just Like That…, the cult exercise brand is trying to do some major damage control.
It turns out the company had no idea that stationary bike would be involved in the death plot and a spokesperson made it clear that the high-end machine was not to blame for Big’s heart issues.
In a statement, Peloton’s preventive cardiologist Dr Suzanne Steinbaum said: “I’m sure SATC fans, like me, are saddened by the news that Mr Big dies of a heart attack. Mr Big lived what many would call an extravagant lifestyle — including cocktails, cigars, and big steaks — and was at serious risk as he had a previous cardiac event in season six.
Mr Big riding a Peleton bike (HBO Max)
“These lifestyle choices and perhaps even his family history, which often is a significant factor, were the likely cause of his death. Riding his Peloton Bike may have even helped delay his cardiac event.”
In the first episode of the new Sex and the City reboot, Big had been seen waxing lyrical about his love of Peleton and his favourite instructor, Allegra.
It was Allegra, played by real Peloton instructor Jess King, who led him on an intense workout session minutes before he collapsed in the bathroom.
In the second episode of the HBO Max series, the show attempted to downplay the bike’s involvement in Big’s death as Steve (David Eigenberg) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) had a discussion moments before the character’s funeral.
Steve wondered why their friend was even riding the bike considering he had a known heart condition.
Miranda insisted it wasn’t the bike that killed Big as she stated: “He was on that bike for over a thousand rides. He got the OK from his cardiologist. Exercise is good for the heart.”
Steinbaum continued: “More than 80 per cent of all cardiac-related deaths are preventable through lifestyle, diet, and exercise modifications. And while 25 per cent of heart attacks each year are in patients who already had one (like Mr Big), even then they are very, very treatable.
And Just Like That… has been met with mixed reviews, with some labelling its attempts to introduce issues of race ham-fisted and tone-deaf, and others simply wondering where the fun went.
The new Sex and the City reboot also explained the glaring absence of Kim Cattrall’s character Samantha Jones, seemingly taking some inspiration from Cattrall’s real-life fallout with Sarah Jessica Parker.
And Just Like That… airs on Thursdays at 9pm on the Sky Comedy channel.
