Fitness influencer Joey Swoll is once again taking a stand against toxic gym behaviour — this time calling for criminal charges after a man filmed a senior citizen naked in a locker room and posted the footage online… all to promote his restaurant.
The original video was uploaded to Instagram by user @e_kitchen92, who recorded the elderly man without consent, mocked his body, and used the clip to advertise his eatery. The now-infamous post – which has been deleted from the OG poster’s account – quickly spread across social media, sparking outrage and drawing Swoll’s immediate attention.
“How disgusting and disrespectful! I hope this gym kicks you out and he presses charges!” Swoll wrote in a repost on X (formerly Twitter).
In his reaction video, Swoll — who’s built a reputation for holding gym-goers accountable for their treatment of others — didn’t mince words.
“I will never understand people’s obsession with filming other people nude in a locker room and posting it online,” he said. “And, newsflash, whether you censor him or not, it is still illegal to film people in an area of expected privacy — like a locker room. And you did this all for what? To advertise your restaurant. Seriously?”
The original uploader had attempted to defend the act by claiming the older man “shouldn’t have been naked in the locker room.” That excuse was immediately torn apart by commenters — and by Swoll himself, who pointed out the obvious.
“I hope that this gym sees this and kicks your a** out and that man presses charges,” he said. “We’ll see how funny you think it is then and how cocky and arrogant you are. You need to do better. Mind your own business.”
The backlash was swift. After Swoll’s video went viral, @e_kitchen92 deactivated their Instagram account, only to later return — now met with furious comments continuing condemning the initial video.
In a follow-up post, Swoll revealed that he had personally contacted the gym where the incident took place — identified as Best Fitness — to ensure accountability.
“They also told me that they had reached out to the man that was filmed, given him all the information so that he can press charges, and I really hope that he does,” Swoll said. “So, thank you Best Fitness for doing what’s right to protect your members. If I am ever in Boston, I will stop by and happily support your gym.”
Swoll confirmed that the gym had permanently banned the person behind the video from all its locations.
This isn’t the first time Joey Swoll has stepped in to defend gym-goers from humiliation. Known for his viral “Gym Positivity” videos, Swoll has spent years advocating for empathy, respect, and boundaries in shared spaces. His message remains consistent: Mind your own business, treat others with respect, and stop recording strangers.
In this latest case, though, Swoll made it clear that what happened wasn’t just rude — it was criminal.
Given that the location of the restaurant is in Massachusetts, it can be assumed that the gym also based in the state – where it is a serious crime to secretly photograph, videotape, or electronically surveil someone in a locker room. Individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in places like locker rooms, bathrooms, and changing areas.
In response to the update, Swoll’s fans were once again overjoyed that justice had been served, with one person writing: “Excellent outcome! Some people need to learn the hard way.”
A second added: “Excellent, these gym clowns must be held accountable.”
By calling out the act as both “disgusting” and “illegal,” and taking steps to ensure real-world consequences, Swoll continues to back his words with action — setting a standard for integrity in an era where social media clout often trumps decency.
Featured image credit: X/@TheJoeySwoll (screenshots)
