LA Artist Claims Gym Prioritized 'Harasser' in Heated Exchange That Sparked Calls for Boycott

November 4, 2025 | Los Angeles, California– In a story igniting fierce online debate over gender-segregated spaces and workplace safety, 42-year-old singer-songwriter Tish Hyman says she was abruptly banned from her longtime Gold's Gym in Los Angeles after confronting a man she accused of repeatedly entering the women's locker room.

The incident, which unfolded on Sunday, November 2, and was captured in a viral video shared on social media, has drawn widespread attention. Hyman, a Bronx native with over 218,000 Instagram followers known for her soulful R&B tracks, alleges the gym's response punished her for speaking out against what she described as ongoing harassment, rather than addressing her safety concerns.

A Pattern of Complaints Ignored?

Hyman, who has been a member of the Venice Beach Gold's Gym for years, claims the confrontation was the culmination of weeks of unease. In posts and interviews following the event, she detailed filing multiple written reports with gym staff about the individual—a man dressed in all black with dangling earrings—whom she said had been "staring" at women while they changed and making them feel unsafe. "Multiple women and I have repeatedly made written reports on this man for coming into our women's locker room harassing us," Hyman wrote in an Instagram Reel that has garnered millions of views.

On the day of the clash, Hyman said the man followed her into the locker room and verbally accosted her, calling her a derogatory name in "a deep angry voice." Terrified, she fled the area and alerted staff, who initially escorted the man out of the facility after police were called. But as Hyman later recounted, the relief was short-lived.

The Confrontation Unfolds on Camera

Footage of the aftermath, filmed outside the gym, shows a visibly agitated Hyman addressing the man as he is led away by security. "Now he knows how to be a man, right? Stay outta the women’s locker room! We don’t want it," she shouts, her voice trembling with frustration. "He needs to have his gym membership revoked for that s–t! We already filed reports. No, no, no! You can’t get rid of me for this! I’m a woman and I have every right not to want a man in the restroom when I’m naked! There are girls naked in there!"

In the video, the man can be heard demanding access to a "deleted video" from gym surveillance before attempting to re-enter the women's locker room, prompting further intervention. Hyman, who identifies as a lesbian, emphasized in her post that the women present at the gym that day "all agreed with me," underscoring a shared sense of vulnerability. "I WAS LITERALLY SCARED," she added in all caps, tagging the post with #BoycottGoldsGym.

Gym's Swift Retaliation and Silence

According to Hyman, while the man was temporarily removed, gym management quickly turned their focus to her. She was escorted off the premises, and her membership was terminated effective immediately—ostensibly for violating conduct policies during the altercation. "They removed him—but then they turned around and terminated my membership too, as if I was being punished for speaking up," Hyman lamented in her Instagram caption.

Representatives for Gold's Gym, which was acquired by the national chain EōS Fitness earlier this year, did not respond to requests for comment from multiple outlets, including this publication. The lack of an official statement has only fueled speculation, with critics accusing the gym of prioritizing inclusivity policies—potentially related to transgender access—over women's comfort and safety.

Ripples of Outrage and Broader Debate

The story has exploded across social media, with Hyman's video racking up shares from influencers and celebrities alike. Supporters have rallied around her, launching a #BoycottGoldsGym campaign and demanding "trans restrooms" as a compromise solution to protect all gym-goers. "This isn't about hate—it's about basic boundaries," one commenter wrote, echoing Hyman's plea for separate facilities.

Detractors, however, have labeled the incident transphobic, pointing to the man's appearance and attire as indicators of gender identity. Online forums and news comment sections are ablaze with polarized views, reigniting national conversations about balancing LGBTQ+ rights with sex-based protections in public spaces like gyms, bathrooms, and sports facilities.

Hyman, undeterred, has vowed to pursue legal recourse and continue advocating for change. "I won't be silenced," she told TMZ in a follow-up interview. "This is bigger than me—it's about every woman who just wants to feel safe."

As the boycott gains steam, all eyes are on Gold's Gym to clarify its policies and respond to the growing chorus of voices. For now, Hyman's story serves as a stark reminder of the tensions simmering beneath the surface of everyday routines.