Enclosed public spaces often increase the chances of misunderstandings. This was what Joey Swoll explained on his social media, after looking at a viral video. The TikTok featured a woman training and filming in the gym while noticing and calling one of the gym-goers a creep for staring at her.
While the video went viral on the social media platform, the audience grew suspicious of the entire setting. While many questioned her intention of filming in the gym, some also commented on how the person didn’t seem like a gym creep to them. Swoll had his two cents ready to share with his fans.
Joey Swoll provides some perspective on the incident
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The video began with the woman capturing the man-in-question for a frame or two, where he looked at her briefly. The camera then panned at her working out, while she claimed through texts in the video that the staring persisted. However, the audience began giving counter-perspectives under the comments and the video blew up. And Swoll decided to jump on the bandwagon too.
The fitness influencer took to his Twitter account, and justified the man looking at her, explaining how gym-goers were bound to look at their fellows. Since the gym is an enclosed public space, it’s natural that one’s eyes might land on someone. Does this mean they’re a gym creep? According to Swoll, not always. Fans swarmed his Twitter post with a wide variety of opinions.
I always stare at people videoing in gyms to make sure they aren’t videoing me to shame me
— Jemma Palmer (@Jemmapalmer) January 29, 2023
if you a person with a tripod camera and a whole setup in the gym.
people are going to look and “stare” a lot. wish people would just understand that. and if you have it setup they’ll look more to see if you’re doing a different type of workout or something— cody compton (@WFFLES) January 29, 2023
However, a lot of people tried to add a different perspective on the situation. One even pointed out that “Most of the time, this dudes are not doing anything.”
anytime i see someone filming at the gym i look and make sure i have a pathway to go around so i don’t interrupt their workout or their filming.
it’s funny how that could be twisted into being a creep.
perspective.
— rj (@rj) January 29, 2023
I totally get women feeling uncomfortable and being harassed on a daily basis. But I really don’t get the point on this kinds of videos. Most of the time, this dudes are not doing anything.
— Matías Ezequiel (@themale_project) January 29, 2023
Meanwhile, some fans were harsh towards the woman who, they claimed, filmed and accused the man, to grab attention. With comments pointing out how this has become a trend among young trainees, people got scathing with their opinions.
Kinda hypocritical considering all the camera angles show 1 thing
— Ethan Tivey (@tiivey_) January 29, 2023
People look at each other in the gym for so many reasons. Some will be looking at your form, some at the type of exercise, some just admiring how others have fared in the gym. Its a gym, an enclosed space, you are bound to look at someone at some point. This is getting silly😔
— Munyaradzi Jiri (@munyaradzjiri) January 29, 2023
Regardless, the topic ended on an optimistic note. After facing public backlash the creator – Jessica Fernandez – apologized and promised to do better. Swoll also cleared the air on the alleged ‘creep’, when some fans came up to him and mentioned how the man was actually a kind gym-goer who didn’t deserve the hate.
🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝 you did change Jessica Fernandez but it took for you to break down her video for her to realize that she was very very wrong pic.twitter.com/PYFbiHgcEg
— Sammie2kbae (@sammie2kbae) January 29, 2023
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UPDATE: A lot of members of this gym, men and women, have come forward saying this man is very kind and loved at the gym and doesn’t deserve this. She should apologize to him. Also, I think management should see this and take action to protect members from this nonsense.
— Joey Swoll (@TheJoeySwoll) January 29, 2023
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So, all’s well that ends well?
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