An everyday trip to the gym in Iowa spiraled into a situation no one saw coming, all thanks to one sauna encounter that struck a nerve. Gyms love to brand themselves as safe havens where members can focus on fitness without drama. In theory, you pay for your time, you sweat, you leave feeling accomplished. But sometimes, reality doesn’t match the glossy brochure. That was the case at a Coralville, Iowa, fitness studio, where one woman’s quiet workout turned into an internet spectacle.
Image Source: HotWorx.com
The teen member had booked a sauna slot that was supposed to last until 7:30. Sounds simple enough, right? Not for the man who decided seven minutes early was “close enough” to demand her spot. Instead of waiting for her session to finish, he stood outside insisting she vacate immediately in the name of “courtesy.” When she offered to wrap up a bit early, by 7:25. He still refused to back down.
Then came the eyebrow-raising part. The Iowa man pushed his way inside, told her to move, and began setting up as if the sauna belonged to him. His smug explanation? “That’s how it works then.” Not exactly the picture of patience.
HOTWORX Fumbles the Response For Harassed Iowa Teen
You’d think the gym would apologize and support the clearly uncomfortable woman. Instead, HOTWORX managed to light the fire even hotter. They posted a TikTok shading the woman while backing the man’s behavior, framing it as part of their “love for all members.” Needless to say, the internet wasn’t buying it.
Once the woman’s own post went viral, the studio scrambled to send a generic email apology. However, the drama didn’t end there. The owner allegedly threatened to revoke her membership if she didn’t delete her video. Rather than bow to the pressure, the woman canceled herself. Yelp reviews quickly tanked to a measly 1.4 stars, with other women chiming in about their own membership cancellations.
The internet wasted no time roasting the Iowa man, calling out his inflated ego and questionable behavior. Women especially flagged how unsettling the encounter was, while others pointed out the laughable hypocrisy of him demanding “courtesy” as he barged in ahead of schedule.
“I thought hotworx was for the girlies 😩 we’re not safe anywhere!” one commenter writes.
“I’d catch a charge because ain’t no way!”
“As a mom of a daughter, I love this. Let him know,” adds another.
Some cracked jokes about how they would’ve handled him, but the bottom line stayed the same: this wasn’t about rules. It was about a grown man trying to flex on a teenage girl, something he likely wouldn’t have dared to attempt with another guy.
Nina Franklin 
Sabrina Russell 
