Gym etiquette is one of Joey Swoll’s top priorities, especially with the rise of social media platforms. In a recent TikTok video, Swoll called out a female user for recording a man without consent in between sets during a workout.
Swoll has become a prominent fitness influencer by standing up for those who are forced to deal with “toxic gym culture.” This term refers to various forms of harassment, intimidation, and judgment that some people encounter at the gym.
One example of this behavior was captured by the TikTok account “xitlahly” in a viral video. The clip showed a man resting between his sets on a machine. A woman approached the adjacent machine and began to use it while recording. The man glanced at her briefly and then shook his head in disapproval before continuing his training session.
Whether it’s disrespect or someone refusing to share gym equipment, Swoll hopes to make gyms more inviting environments for everyone. His movement has spread and even reached bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, who praised him for his positive efforts in fitness.
“I Understand Why This Man Is So Frustrated,” Joey Swoll Reacts to Female TikToker Recording in Gym
While fitness centers are for the public, Joey Swoll believes everyone deserves the right to feel comfortable when they train. Sometimes, that means not being recorded in the gym without consent.
“This is why so many want filming banned in gyms. If you can’t film with respect for others, you shouldn’t film at all.”
“I understand why this man is so frustrated and shaking his head. Your camera is pointed directly at him where you’re filming more of him than you are of yourself in your video. That would upset anybody. Not to mention, with all of these cameras and tripods popping up in gyms all over the place, people are getting frustrated because they just want to go to the gym to work out,” Joey Swoll said.
“You have to understand, just because you feel comfortable to film yourself at the gym doesn’t mean other people feel the same and this keeps a lot of people from going to the gym. Your wanting to film never takes priority over someone feeling comfortable enough to go work out in the gym and better themselves and a lot of people on your page told you this.”
In Swoll’s opinion, filming in the gym should be done responsibly and with respect to others.
“If you’re going to film, you have to film responsibly and with respect to other people. If you can’t do that, don’t film at all. You need to do better. Mind your own business.”
This isn’t the first time Swoll has come to the defense of a gym-goer on TikTok. Earlier this year, he took a shot at a Female user who called a man ‘fuc**ng feral’ for looking at her inside the gym. Swoll, taken aback by her actions, made an example out of her by underlining the difference between glancing and staring.
Even bodybuilders have become subject to toxic gym culture. NPC athlete Charly Young made light of his concerning situation last Sept. when a man cursed at him repeatedly for simply posing with his shirt off inside the gym. Swoll praised Young for his maturity and condemned the aggressive man’s behavior.
Joey Swoll has ambitious plans, and his movement to correct gym etiquette has grown. As for his latest subject, Swoll believes in filming others with respect, or just not at all.