'Peloton wife' Monica Ruiz speaks out for the first time to say she feels 'really lucky' that people have been 'so nice' since the controversial ad aired as she says the SNL skit that mocked the 'sexist' commercial was 'hilarious'

• California-based actress Monica Ruiz was seen walking her dog in Los Angeles 
• She insists she feels 'really, really lucky' to have played the woman who receives the $2,000 bike from her husband on Christmas morning after the ad went viral
• Ruiz also says she thought SNL's spoof of that ad, where a mock Melania Trump jokes about riding away her problems on the stationary bike, was 'hilarious' 
• 'People have been so nice to me, I’m really, really lucky', Ruiz said Sunday
• In real life, she's a married mother-of-two who acts and models for Target
• 'Peloton husband' actor Sean Hunter slammed this week's SNL spoof 

The actress and model who starred in the now infamous Peloton holiday commercial has been pictured for the first time following the huge backlash against the advert. 

California-based actress Monica Ruiz, who was seen walking her dog in Los Angeles, insisted Sunday that she feels 'really, really lucky' to have played the woman who receives a $2,000 stationary bike from her husband on Christmas morning.

She also said she thought SNL's spoof of that ad, where a mock Melania Trump jokes about riding away her problems on the stationary bike, was 'hilarious'. 

Wearing her torn jeans, black sneakers and a black sweatshirt with her hair pulled up in a bun married mother-of-two Ruiz said: 'People have been so nice to me, I’m really, really lucky.'   

Ruiz filmed the now infamous Peloton commercial in early September, titled The Gift That Gives Back. In the ad, Ruiz documented her year-long fitness journey in a series of videos that she compiled into a thank you video for her husband.

The ad made its first appearance in late November. But, by early December - much to Ruiz and costar Sean Hunter's surprise, viewers had begun to lambaste the ad on social media, calling it sexist, misogynistic, humiliating and cringeworthy.

Ruiz had already said of the commercial: 'I was happy to accept a job opportunity earlier this year from Peloton and the team was lovely to work with. 

'Although I’m an actress, I am not quite comfortable being in spotlight and I’m terrible on social media.So to say I was shocked and overwhelmed by the attention this week (especially the negative) is an understatement.'

The commercial controversy and Ruiz's sudden notoriety drew the attention of Ryan Reynolds, who tapped her to star in a cheeky commercial for his Aviation Gin company, titled The Gift That Doesn't Give Back. 

In the gin ad, released Friday, Ruiz stares blankly into the camera for some time, before it's revealed that she's sitting at a bar enjoying a drink with her friends.

The ad, which appears to be positioned as a continuation of the Peloton ad, sees Ruiz proclaiming that 'This gin is really smooth,' as her friends say, 'You're safe here.'

After toasting each other, Ruiz says, 'To new beginnings,' before draining her glass. One of her friends then slides her glass over to Ruiz and says 'it's gonna be a fun night.'

The commercial wraps up with a shot of Aviation Gin and a voice over of a character saying, 'You look great, by the way,' a statement which is being seen as a dig at the the Peloton ad.

When sharing the ad with his fans, Reynolds tweeted: 'Exercise bike not included.'

It comes as Ruiz's on screen husband slammed SNL's spoof, insisting it was not sexist. 

Canadian actor Sean Hunter, who works as an elementary school teacher, said: 'It was frustrating, actually, I’ll be honest. They said the new Peloton ad is labelled as sexist and it was there in bold. I disagree. 

'They’re reinforcing that that’s what people are thinking about it and I don’t feel that way. That’s not the truth about the commercial at all.' 

Hunter revealed he received a lot of social media hate since the release of the commercial, some haters going as far to attack him in his direct message inbox.