People work out at a Planet Fitness in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., January 8, 2024. REUTERS/Leah Millis
(Concord, California) – An incident is resurfacing online after new video commentary from a woman who says she witnessed inappropriate sexual behavior in a women’s restroom – reigniting a heated debate over safety, enforcement, and transgender access policies.
The original video, recorded in May but now circulating again, shows a confrontation inside a women’s locker room after a male individual who identified as transgender was accused by bystanders of engaging in sexually inappropriate conduct inside a restroom stall. The footage includes gym members and employees confronting the individual, who denied the accusation and claimed to be “drying off.”
According to the woman who later spoke publicly in a second video, she first noticed suspicious activity after seeing repeated movement shadows while the restroom was otherwise empty. She said she left the area, returned later, and observed the same behavior continuing. Feeling uncomfortable and believing she would not be believed without proof, she recorded a video and alerted gym staff.
In her account, Planet Fitness employees entered the restroom to assess the situation but appeared unsure how to respond. The confrontation escalated when the woman’s boyfriend entered and verbally confronted the individual. No police were called at the time, and no charges were filed.
The woman said the day after the incident, a Planet Fitness owner contacted her, thanked her for speaking up, and apologized – but she said no further action appeared to be taken. She now says she regrets not contacting law enforcement at the time, adding that she feared being labeled “transphobic” and believed nothing would come of a report.
The resurfaced videos have prompted intense reaction on social media, with critics accusing Planet Fitness and similar gym chains of prioritizing ideology over safety. Some users questioned whether self-identification policies could be abused, while others criticized political leaders and parties they say dismiss such incidents as impossible.
Supporters of transgender inclusion cautioned against drawing broad conclusions from a single, disputed incident, emphasizing that alleged misconduct should be handled as a criminal matter regardless of gender identity.
Planet Fitness has not publicly commented on the resurfaced videos or clarified whether the individual involved remains banned or whether policy changes have been made.
The incident has renewed calls from some lawmakers and advocacy groups for clearer enforcement standards in public accommodations – particularly when it comes to protecting privacy and safety in sex-segregated spaces.
