TheQuartering [3/19/2023]
A personal trainer has been praised for using his platform to call out self-entitled ‘gymfluencer’ behaviour.
Every so often, a viral GymTok clip would make the rounds on the platform – and sometimes it’s ugly. Some clips show TikTokers mock an unsuspected gym-goer for their form. Others show gymfluencers get frustrated because a person unintentionally ‘ruins their video’.
In another instance, a TikToker accuses a man of staring at her when he simply glanced in her direction for a millisecond. While this isn’t to say harassment in gyms doesn’t exist, false accusations like this can take away from the real-life issue.
TikTok user Joey Swoll (@thejoeyswoll) has garnered 1.6 million followers, declaring himself the ‘CEO of gym positivity.’ His page is filled with helpful advice for gym-goers, including meal inspiration, workout routines and motivational talks.
But now, his attention has turned to call out disrespectful behaviour and schooling people on basic respect and gym etiquette. Subsequently, most of the original clips he has put on blast have been deleted by the original creators.
In one clip that racked 18.5 million views, a gymfluencer posted a clip of herself working out before a fellow gym-goer walks over to her space to collect a weight to take back to her area. The TikToker overlayed the clip with audio that called the woman a “c***” and gave her a dirty look.
Joey slammed the video and said it “absolutely disgusted” him.
“First off, having a lot of followers on social media doesn’t give you priority over other people in the gym. It’s a public space; it’s a shared space,” he said.
“You should do the opposite. Be a leader, be humble. If you’re going to film in a public gym, that’s fine – but you should be respectful of other people.
“You should mind your own business and be better than that.”