‘Ridiculous’: Gymgoer banned over common footwear choice

A man was booted and barred from his gym after staff claimed his controversial choice of attire was “inappropriate”.

Footage has gone viral of the moment a gym-goer was booted out and banned over his controversial choice of footwear.

Stephen Metcalf was a member of the Gym Group branch of gyms in the town of Swindon, located in southwest England, and had come on multiple occasions wearing Ugg boots to warm his cold feet.

But after about a month of doing so, he was told the Uggs were “inappropriate” for the fitness club, according to SWNS.

After filming himself confronting staff about the rules, Mr Metcalf was notified by email that his behaviour was “aggressive, abusive, intimidating, anti-social, (and) threatening,” and that his contract had been terminated.

The gym sign

In the clip, the gym-goer can be heard saying to the employee: “They are not flip flops. Where does it say (on the sign) that it’s not appropriate? Where is the description of that?”

He then points to the sign on the wall of the gym that specifies patrons must wear “the right stuff” while working out, which means making sure they are “dressed appropriately” and not in “flip flops or ballgowns”.

“If there’s no description, you can’t tell me that they’re not appropriate,” Mr Metcalf continues. “Flip flops are an open-toe shoe, yes? Okay, so are (the Uggs) an open-toe shoe?”

The staff member replied: “We have been told by management and our head office that if they are not in trainers, we have to refuse. I’m sorry. I’m only doing my job.”

Stephen Metcalf was banned from a gym for wearing Uggs. Picture: SWNS

He was told they were inappropriate by staff. Picture: SWNS

But the man hit back once again, saying, “It doesn’t say trainers there. I’m saying no, that’s not fair. What if I refuse to leave?”

The staff then said that they would have to call management and then the police, to which Mr Metcalf replied, “Call management then please, call the management now, because that’s bonkers.”

Following the exchange and subsequent cancellation of his membership, Mr Metcalf said it was a “stupid” decision and he can’t see the difference between wearing Ugg boots and people who take their footwear off in the gym to perform certain exercises.

In the video, the man said to the employee: ‘They are not flip flops’ while pointing to a sign saying flip-flops aren’t allowed. Picture: SWNS

Ben Lucas, Director of Flow Athletic, a boutique gym in Paddington, Sydney, told news.com.au, “So far, I haven’t seen anyone wearing them ‘in’ the gym, only to a yoga or a pilates class and then they take them off to do the class barefoot or in socks”.

However, he says he would not recommend training in Ugg boots.

“They provide no support, no protection, and I’m sure they are not hygienic,” he continues.

“But I wouldn’t flat out ban them from our gym either. I would just make a recommendation.”

Mr Metcalf claims he didn’t use any gym machines like treadmills or bikes, and instead stuck to floor exercises like sit ups, pull ups and press ups.

Communication received by Metcalf following confrontation with staff. Picture: SWNS

Gym does in fact ban ‘boots’

Following the incident, he said he researched the Gym Group’s terms and conditions online and discovered that it said that boots weren’t appropriate.

However, he believes the boots being referred to in the rules are gumboots, work boots or football boots – not Uggs.

In addition to being banned, he was particularly disappointed he didn’t receive a refund for the month at the gym he had just paid for.

“If you’re going to ban somebody, at least give them the chance to get their money back,” he notes.

“People who I’ve known for six years from the gym said it was ridiculous. If I came in with boxing boots, or high top trainers is that okay? The rules are very ambiguous.

“They said that I was a danger to myself, and I said that it was my own personal danger and that I wasn’t breaching any rules.”

Stephen has now joined a more expensive gym closer to where he lives.

Gym responds

A spokesperson for Gym Group said: “Our member rules help us to create safe, inclusive, and welcoming gym spaces, and include the behaviours we expect of our members, as well as the clothing and footwear that are not safe or practical to exercise in.

“We are clear that breaches of the rules may result in a membership cancellation.”