TikTok’s new trend of gym harassment has been divisive
#gymcreep and #gymweirdo go viral
In an ideal world everyone could go to the gym, work out and leave without having to worry about those around them. However, women have one more reason to worry, when they often become the target of indiscreet men. The topic has taken on huge proportions in recent months on TikTok, as videos with hashtags #GymCreep and #GymWeirdo have gathered over 100 million views.
The two terms usually describe men who approach or watch women who are working out. Several women in the comments can identify with the circumstances, however some claim that men are unfairly targeted in many cases, while there is also criticism of the fact that they are being videotaped without their permission.

In a 2021 Run Repeat US survey, 56% of women reported harassment during their time at the gym. Several said they would be positive about joining an all-women’s gym. But the number of women’s gyms is small and they usually don’t have the variety of equipment that the big chains have.
23-year-old fitness influencer with over 1 million followers, Natalee Barnett, is calling on men to stand up for women and stand up to other men who harass them, just as they would in any other situation outside of the gym. He also urges them to take a gentler approach when caring for a woman who might need help with the weights.
I find that sometimes men are not aware of how tall and how muscular they are and that can be scary.

Action is also required from gyms.
We have policies to ensure that coaches and members know what behavior is not acceptable. This helps us to ensure a safe environment where people feel comfortable making their complaints, knowing that we will support them through a transparent process. – Ann-Marie Murphy, spokesperson for The Gym Group