Joey Swol Addresses Critics After Backlash
Fitness influencer Joey Swol has made it clear he won’t be canceled by critics, following backlash over a tribute to wrestling legend Hulk Hogan.
Swol, known as the “CEO of Gym Positivity,” returned to social media on Friday. He expressed his frustration with the negativity he faced after briefly stepping back from the platform, calling out those who bullied him for the tribute.
“You love me or hate me, I’m not going anywhere, so you’re not going to cancel me,” he told his 8 million TikTok followers.
Swol declared that he hasn’t quit and has completed his apology to those who were offended. This came after he posted a video wearing a Hogan costume, a throwback to an older piece of content, which some fans shared in honor of the WWE star who passed away on July 24.
Hogan’s death was attributed to a heart attack, according to records from the Pinellas County Forensic Center.
Some online critics seemed unaware of Hogan’s controversial past and reacted strongly to Swol’s tribute.
After the backlash, Swol deleted the video and publicly apologized for not being aware of the “terrifying, horrifying things humans have done.”
In a message on July 29, he reflected on his journey, stating he had “completed” his online persona. He acknowledged both the positive impact he felt he had made and the scrutiny that comes with public life. “People are just waiting for a reason to hate you and tear you apart,” he said.
Swol’s social media presence, which boasted nearly 17 million followers, had been mostly silent until his return, where he critiqued another gym bully. “I wish someone would call out bullies at the gym?” asked a text bubble in a video. Swol appeared shortly after, emphasizing his commitment to standing against such behavior.
“I just took a few days to take a step back, breathe, and get my mind right,” he explained.
He mentioned receiving countless supportive messages, which motivated him to continue with his mission. “A message that gives me a good kick—I needed it to get back,” he shared, reinforcing his resolve to advocate for those being bullied in the gym and beyond.
“My message is better, not perfect,” he captioned one of his posts, as he continues to champion positivity in his community.
