Joey Swoll (42) called out a woman on social media for displaying what he believed to be inappropriate behavior at the gym.
The bodybuilder is known for his videos denouncing toxic situations that contribute to a negative gym experience. Self-branded "CEO of gym positivity," Joey has accumulated 7.4 million followers on TikTok, where he's often praised for standing up for fellow gym-goers.
Highlights
- Joey Swoll, a fitness influencer, publicly criticized a woman's gym behavior on social media.
- With 7.4 million TikTok followers, Joey Swoll is known as the "CEO of gym positivity."
- The controversy centered on a video of a woman, Felicity, using a bench press machine in a suggestive manner.
In a recent video, Joey focused on a woman named Felicity, who shared a clip of herself using a bench press machine with her legs while she lay on her back.
Image credits: joeyswoll
The caption on Felicity's video read: "*Gym crush finishes his sets and turns around* Me working out behind him."
"Please stop filming this content at the gym," Joey said, addressing the woman's sexually suggestive workout pose.
"Listen, I'm all for gym humor and comedy, but there is absolutely a line, especially when you're at a busy commercial gym like this crunch, where a lot of young people, a lot of minors, work out," he added.
The famous "gymfluencer" highlighted that teenagers risked being exposed by appearing in the background of her video.
Felicity shared a clip of herself using a bench press machine with her legs while she lay on her back
Image credits: joeyswoll
He also mentioned that he'd be "absolutely livid" if his teenage child saw this type of behavior at the gym.
Addressing Felicity, he said: "If this was my gym, I would ask you one time politely to stop doing this, but seeing as this is a theme on your page, video after video, I would ask you to leave and not come back."
Joey then signed off with his signature phrase, "You need to do better. Mind your own business."
"If this was my gym, I would ask you one time politely to stop doing this," Joey said
The video sparked mixed reactions, with many people siding with Felicity and others agreeing with Joey's words.
"I really want to know her mindset on why she should post that," someone wrote, while another added, "These types of videos may not be appropriate for a crowded gym environment."
"Gyms should have a no recording policy," another person said.
A separate social media user didn't think Joey should be the one to determine what's considered inappropriate behavior or not, writing, "So Joey Swoll is the one who draws the line, interesting."
"I don't know why the hate Joey, that's a legit workout," another person commented.
"It's kinda crazy but idk I just mind my business and keep walking," somebody else wrote.
Image credits: strongbyfelicity
Felicity has since responded to Joey, saying she doesn't regret her video or workout pose.
She mentioned that she has "always been an outsider" and that she was bullied during her school days.
"These people all don't know me, you can think whatever you want, that I'm a s**t, I'm a h*e, I'm a c**t, I really don't care," she said on Instagram.
"You guys are putting [in] so much effort to bring a woman down."
She also didn't intend for her exercise to be sexualized by thousands of Internet users.
"It is an advanced hip opener that requires flexibility, stability, and strength."
"They don't know me, and I realized nothing they can say or do can stop me from loving myself," she responded
Furthermore, she commented on the hate she has received from Joey's large following.
"I think it's upsetting to be cyber-attacked and targeted by an influencer's fanbase," she explained.
"I'm sure this happens to a lot of people and that I'm not the only one. I find the culture and community very negative.
"It bothered me at first because they are calling me a 'sex offender' because of what Joey said about me and I have never been called that before.
"They are also attacking my physical appearance, intelligence, race, gender and sexuality. Everything you can think of.
"However, they don't know me and I realized nothing they can say or do can stop me from loving myself, working on my fitness, and my journey to becoming the strong and powerful woman I want to be."
Someone said Joey should "mind his own business"
