A routine gym session turned into something far more unsettling for one female fitness coach after she unknowingly captured what she later described as a ‘creepy’ invasion of her privacy on camera.
If you’re reading this, then you probably already know that social media is flooded with workout clips, progress updates and training tips. But Elena McCarthy viral video has highlighted how, for many women, simply turning up to exercise can come with an added and unwanted layer of scrutiny.
McCarthy, an online coach, was filming a warm-up tutorial for a client while training at a gym in Vienna, Austria. Like many content creators, she had set up her phone on a tripod and was focused entirely on her workout.
“I needed the light and the rest of the room was full, so I was close to the door,” McCarthy told News.com.au. “Honestly, I didn’t even think about it that someone would be looking.”
As she stretched on a mat near a glass door, the footage behind her told a different story.
A man can be seen walking past, doing a noticeable double-take, before pulling out his phone. Moments later, he appears to take a photo or video of McCarthy from behind without her consent before walking away.
At the time, McCarthy didn’t notice what had happened. But when she later reviewed the footage, the behaviour was impossible to miss.
“My body, my movement, my business,” she wrote alongside the clip. “There is a massive difference between being ‘in public’ and being ‘public property’. Recording women without permission while they are stretching or training isn’t just ‘creepy’ — it’s a violation of the safety we all deserve in this space.”
She added a direct message aimed at anyone watching: “Respect the athlete. Respect the person. Respect the consent.” Check out the clip below:
The video quickly gained traction online, amassing more than five million views and sparking a fierce debate in the comments. Many users expressed anger and frustration at what they were seeing.
“It’s infuriating” and “definitely disgusting and sad” were among the reactions, while another wrote: “Such disgusting, pathetic behaviour and unfortunately more common than people realise.”
Others pushed back against a familiar narrative, questioning why the focus so often shifts to what women are wearing or how they’re exercising rather than the behaviour being shown.
“The comments about a woman just stretching by herself are wild. Men: do better,” one user pointed out.
McCarthy addressed that response head-on in her caption.
“If your first instinct is to critique my outfit instead of condemning the person holding the camera, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM,” she wrote. “By shifting the blame to what I’m wearing, you are choosing to excuse predatory behaviour and silence women.”
As the video spread globally, the reaction became increasingly polarised. Some users continued to defend the man’s actions or suggested McCarthy had put herself in a vulnerable position.
“But, who in their right mind, in an empty room, sets up in the middle with their a** up facing the door? Not only is it asking to be stared at, but it’s also making you a vulnerable target if someone were to attack you,” one comment read.
Another added: “Only crime is he didn’t pay for it.”
McCarthy said the volume of comments defending the man was deeply concerning.
“I didn’t think there would be such a big number of men defending this guy, and this is the reason why I want to pursue this till the end. I feel it happens a lot more than men realise and I refuse to be told that I need to cover up to ‘protect’ myself,” she said.
She also addressed claims that the incident had been staged, insisting it “absolutely wasn’t,” and confirmed the situation had been reported.
Elena also told LADbible that despite accusations online, the video was definitely not staged and confirmed that the incident was reported to staff at the gym via an official complaint.
The conversation has extended beyond social media, with fitness professionals weighing in on the wider issue. Sydney personal trainer Max Dimarco, who specialises in women’s fitness, said there was no ambiguity in this case.
“There is no possible way of defending the actions of this guy or putting any of the blame on that poor woman,” Dimarco told news.com.au.
He added that women shouldn’t have to adjust how they train because of the men around them.
“If she’s making decisions based on the fact that it’s going to make some creepy little man like that feel the need to take photos, or sexualise her or make her feel uncomfortable, that is ridiculous,” he said.
For McCarthy, the viral moment has become about more than just one incident. It has opened up a broader conversation about consent, accountability and the reality many women face when they step into gyms simply to train. “My clothes don’t give anyone the right to my image, and your comments don’t justify their lack of boundaries,” she wrote.
Featured image credit: Instagram/@elenamccarthyfitness (screenshot)
