A man has been charged with two counts of assault, following a viral incident at a gum in Burlington.
In the video, Canadian fitness influencer Mike Van Wyck is seen hitting fellow influencer Jeff Nippard at Pure Muscle + Fitness on Benson Drive on Sunday, Oct. 20.
"Halton Regional Police Service has investigated an assault that took place at Pure Muscle Fitness in Burlington on October 20," police responded, in an email, to Oakville News.
"As a result of that investigation a 43-year-old male of Etobicoke man has been charged with two counts of Assault."
In case you missed it, Mike Van Wyck appears to assault Jeff Nippard. This is not fake. Here's the original video.
— MassiveIron (@massive_iron) October 21, 2024
Word has it on socials that this was not the end of the encounter.#massiveiron pic.twitter.com/tki16f3RS9
Nippard said later that he was hit again after the video was turned off.
"Mike Van Wyck jabbed me in the throat twice in the middle of the gym and then shoved my camera man," Nippard wrote on Instagram on Monday.
Nippard had a CT scan, but added that he is doing okay.
“As I was filming bicep curls for a YouTube short, Mike brushed by me and said “sup”. This was our first engagement that day,” Nippard wrote.
“I chuckled. Mike said “oh things are about to get real funny” as he walked past me. I then asked him “what did you mean by that?” and I made sure my camera was filming in case he tried any funny business. Then he walked back toward me, he said “turn the camera off” and immediately jabbed me in the throat and I fell onto the floor. Pure Muscle and Fitness allows filming btw. I stood back up and he told me to never talk about him ever again. Then he jabbed me in the throat a second time.”
Nippard continued that Van Wyck shoved his cameraman against a machine and walked away.
The two apparently butted heads over a dispute between a video Van Wyck had posted called “Science Based Scammers”, and Nippard made a video response suggesting Van Wyck is wrong.
Pure Muscle + Fitness released a statement on Instagram on Monday as well.
"At Pure Muscle + Fitness, we have a strict zero-tolerance policy for violence and bullying," the gym’s post reads.
"We are deeply saddened by a recent incident involving unacceptable behaviour by a member. This individual was not employed by or formally associated with our gym, and we have permanently removed their access to our facility, including any privileges to train clients."