A workout clip from a Vienna gym has gone viral for all the wrong reasons, after it appeared to capture a man filming a woman without her permission. The video was recorded by fitness trainer Elena McCarthy, 36, who was simply trying to create content for a client. She later said she picked a spot near glass doors because the rest of the room was crowded and the light was better, never imagining someone would use the moment to invade her privacy.
In the footage, McCarthy is warming up and holding a bent-over yoga position sometimes called “puppy pose.” Through the glass behind her, a male gym-goer enters the frame, pulls out his phone, and appears to take photos or record her from behind. McCarthy only noticed what happened once the clip was shared and people pointed out the behavior in the background. The incident quickly spread online, drawing millions of views and a flood of reactions.
What shocked McCarthy just as much as the filming, she said, was how many commenters rushed to defend the man or blame her instead. Some suggested she “asked for it” by choosing where she stood or by wearing fitted workout clothes. Others implied the situation was staged, which she has firmly denied, insisting it unfolded exactly as shown. She wrote that being in a public gym does not make anyone “public property,” and that filming women while they stretch or train without consent is not harmless or funny, it is a violation.
McCarthy also pushed back against the familiar instinct to police women’s outfits rather than confront the person holding the camera. She argued that focusing on clothing choices normalizes predatory behavior and pressures women to make themselves smaller, quieter, and less visible just to feel safe. Alongside the video, she shared a pointed line that resonated widely, saying it is “not all men,” but it is always a man, capturing the frustration many women feel when these moments are minimized.
Personal trainer Max Dimarco, who has worked with women for more than a decade, also weighed in, saying there is no reasonable “other side” to excuse filming someone without consent. He noted that many women he trains avoid gyms precisely because viral clips like this confirm their fears. McCarthy reported the incident to the gym and filed an official complaint, determined to see it addressed rather than brushed off.
Have you noticed gyms doing enough to protect privacy, or does the culture around filming need a serious reset? Share your thoughts in the comments.
