An Australian gym franchise has gone viral after its owner decided to ban filming as more "fitness influencers" record their workouts for social media.
Doherty’s Gyms, which has locations across Australia, will now only rarely hand out media passes and warns people when filming is underway.
Owner Tony Doherty said he'd decided he'd had enough after seeing “eight tripods” set up across the weight-room.
“I think the industry needed a little recess… I don’t really care what anyone else does or anyone else thinks, but in my gym, no more tripods. Done.”
Doherty compared the actions of the fitness influencers to a food blogger going to a restaurant with a tripod, and other people in the restaurant doing the same.
“No one would put up with it. I don’t know how this became acceptable and normal.”
Although the ban ignited online debate with approving and opposing views, Doherty said websites had run polls finding “96% of people in favour” of the ban.
“People are rapt. No one wants to be in your movie.”
He said Dohertys Gyms regularly posts “gym etiquette” videos on social media but “for some reason” this one went viral.
“If one person does it, then 50 or 60 people can do it.
“Imagine going to a restaurant and having 50 or 60 tripods set up, one at each table filming everyone eat… No one signs up for that, people come to the gym for peace and quiet, privacy, and I think they’re entitled to it.”
“People think they’re so important they have to film everything, but we’re like ‘no… it’s about respecting people’s privacy'.”
Breakfast host Daniel Faitaua said he agreed with the ban.
“There are times at the gym where you can [go] 24 hours. Why don’t you go at three in the morning, when there’s no one there, and set up your tripod?” said Faitaua.
Meanwhile, Breakfast host Anna Burns-Francis said someone who sent in feedback to the show raised a “good point”.
“If you were otherwise creating content you’d have to go and hire a studio or go and find somewhere else to film. You are not just gifted [permission] because you pay for a gym membership," the feedback read.
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