An 18-year-old fitness enthusiast has captured the shocking moment a stranger confronted him and went off on a homophobic rant because he was exercising shirtless at the gym, calling him a ‘weirdo’ and a ‘f****t.’
TikToker Nick Nush, a college student from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, was recording his back workout to judge his progress when he noticed another man filming him from across the gym and asked what he was doing.
In the video, shot on Nick’s phone, the gymgoer appeared to be mocking the teen, asking: Getting that shirtless workout in?’
Say what? Nick Nush, a college student from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, shared a shocking video of the moment a man confronted him at the gym for exercising shirtless
Yikes: The 18-year-old was recording his back workout on his phone to judge his progress when he noticed the stranger was filming him from across the gym
For real? When the teen asked what the guy was doing, he mocked him for working out shirtless and called him a ‘weirdo’
‘Yeah,’ replied Nick, who has been going to the gym since he was 16.
The stranger then became aggressive and called the fitness enthusiast a ‘weirdo’ for his shirtless attire.
After questioning why he was being called a weirdo, the man hit back: ”Cause you’re shirtless in a f*****g gym r****d.’
Nick graciously explained that he was filming his back muscles, asking: ‘What’s your problem? You ain’t gotta record me.’
‘F**k you. That’s weird as s**t. F**k you f****t,’ the man said, using a homophobic slur.
Argument: After Nick questioned why he was being called a weirdo, the man hit back: ”Cause you’re shirtless in a f*****g gym r****d
Hate language: As they continued to go back and forth, the stranger got more aggressive and used a homophobic slur, telling Nick: ‘ F**k you f****t’
Hitting back: Nick eventually retaliated by asking the man if he was ‘mad an 18-year-old is bigger’
Close to fighting: The man slammed his water bottle down and squared up to Nick, coming within inches of his face
‘So I don’t even know this dude, and I am confused as hell of what’s going on, because I don’t understand why he’s cursing me out and stuff,’ Nick admitted in the video.
‘But he continues to stare at me and flip me off and mouth things at me — so I just had to say something.’
Nick could be heard asking: ‘What you mad an 18-year-old is bigger than you?’
The man then slammed his water bottle down and squared up to Nick, coming within inches of his face. Nick once again asked him what was his problem, prompting a tense back and forth.
When Nick told the man to get out of his face, he threatened him, saying: ‘I’ll f**k up, p***y.’ The teen laughed and puts on his headphones as the guy finally walked away.
Bigger man: The man looked like he was trying to pick a fight with Nick, but the teen refused to throw a punch
Over: The ordeal ended with Nick ignoring the guy, who finally left him alone to continue his workout in peace
Going viral: The TikTok video has been viewed more than seven million times and has received nearly 30,000 comments
Nick told Jam Press that he was surprised by the confrontation, explaining: ‘I normally only workout shirtless if I’m recording my back or want to record any body part you can’t see with a tank top on.
‘I have never received this type of reaction before.’
The fitness lover said the ordeal ended with him ignoring the guy, who finally left him alone to continue his workout.
‘I did show the gym managers the video and it’s up to them what they want to do with him,’ he added.
The viral TikTok video has been viewed more than seven million times and has received nearly 30,000 comments. Many people were impressed by how Nick kept his cool during the heated exchange.
Hard to handle: Nick, who has been going to the gym since he was 16, was admittedly surprised by the confrontation
Looking back: Nick told Jam Press that he only works out shirtless when he is recording parts of his body that aren’t visible when he is wearing a tank top, saying it’s never been problem
Fans: Many people were impressed that Nick kept his cool during the heated exchange
‘Good job being the adult,’ one person wrote, while another agreed: ‘Beta as hell. You did good my guy, not even worth the breath.’
‘My god, this is toxic masculinity in action,’ someone else shared. ‘Mate, you just experienced a tenth of what most women have to endure in the weights section EVERY DAY.’
However, there were some TikTokers who thought he should have hit the man after he got in his face, with one person saying he ‘should’ve smacked him silly.’
‘For everyone saying why didn’t I hit him,’ Nick responded in the comments, ‘I know he was being a tool and an a**hole, but these people aren’t worth it.
‘I’m more mature than this guy. Also I don’t wanna deal with the police for assault or being banned from the gym,’ he added.
‘I can control myself, obviously this dude has problems.’