The fitness community is up in arms after a woman shamed a shirtless man’s body during a workout at a public gym. In response to the viral TikTok, Joey Swoll came to the man’s defense and called the gym owner, which resulted in the woman’s membership being revoked.
During the clip, a woman utters under her breath to a man that if he isn’t going to wear a shirt, he should at least have some muscles. This caught the attention of bodybuilding influencer Joey Swoll, who has made a career out of calling people out for gym wrongdoings.
Joey Swoll, referred to as the ‘CEO of Gym Positivity,‘ has taken it upon himself to make fitness centers more welcoming and inclusive places. Embarking on a fitness journey can be daunting enough and Swoll contends that people like the female in the latest video are the reason why many choose to stay away from gyms.
Joey Swoll Gets Woman’s Gym Membership Revoked After She Body Shames Shirtless Man Working Out
After speaking with the Texas gym Absolute Recomp, Swoll discovered that there is no rule against training shirtless for men.
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“If you’re not going to wear a shirt, can you at least have some muscles? Listen, I get it. You want to train at a gym where everyone keeps their shirt on, that’s fine but this gym isn’t one of them. I called Absolute Recomp in Texas and their rules say you can train with your shirt off.”
Swoll adds that she filmed the man without his consent, which is against gym rules.
“You signed up there, therefore, you need to follow the rules, including the rule that says you don’t film people without their consent to post on social media. And people tried to tell you this yet you arrogantly posted your response when they tried to defend this man and you didn’t listen. Therefore, you get me,” said Joey Swoll.
After speaking with the owner, Swoll revealed that the woman in the video has been banned from the gym.
“I also find it funny that you post calling them keyboard warriors that if you go to the same gym that they should come and find you that they should speak to you face-to-face, yet you think it’s okay to film that man and make fun of him literally behind his back without him knowing.
Just a heads up, they can’t find you at that gym anymore because I talked to the owner and your membership has been canceled. You need to do better, mind your own business.”
No one is immune to Joey Swoll and his mission to make gyms more hospitable environments. He recently called out former Men’s Physique Olympia Erin Banks, who took issue with fellow gymgoers who interrupted his training video by walking in front of the camera. Banks quickly apologized, but Swoll underlined that athletes of his stature should set the example instead of contributing to negativity in a gym setting.
And Joey Swoll isn’t the only prominent voice in fitness eager to turn gyms around for the better. His movement even caught the attention of former seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was overly impressed with Swoll’s plight and willingness to spread positivity in the fitness sector.
As Swoll’s push for better gym manners picks up steam, we can look forward to fewer of these encounters in the future. But until then, he’s fully dedicated to standing up for those who might not have a say in these situations.
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