Bodybuilding star Jeff Nippard was attacked by another health guru while recording a workout session at a gym in Canada this week… and the attack was caught on video!
Nippard – recognized for his scientific bodybuilding method – broke his silence on the incident after video emerged showing Nippard being violently pushed to the bottom by Mike Van Wyck at the Pure Muscle and Health fitness center in Ontario.
“Mike Van Wyck punched me in the throat twice at the gym and then pushed my cameraman,” Nippard said Monday on social media.
“There may already be a lie out there that Mike asked me to avoid him, and that I didn’t pay attention and approached him first. This is FALSE.”
Nippard went on to explain…saying that Van Wyck apparently had an issue with JN’s filming for his popular YouTube channel.
“Then he came back towards me, said ‘turn off the camera’ and immediately punched me in the throat and I fell to the ground,” Nippard said.
“I got up and he told me never to talk about him again. Then he punched me in the throat a second time.”
Jeff also says that Van Wyck assaulted his cameraman before leaving.
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Nippard said he’s not sure why Van Wyck reacted the way he did… but suspects it was due to a video he made reacting to MVW labeling science-based health influencers as “mediocre.”
“My opinion is that it was the result of the anger caused by the clip I posted yesterday answering your question about science-based training,” Nippard said, “pretty wild stuff.”
The 34-year-old says he went to the hospital for a CT scan after the assault… before telling over 2 million IG followers that he was fine.
Fellow bodybuilders rallied to Nippard’s defense…along with Quinton Eriyawho said he will no longer train with Van Wyck as he would not take care of bullies.
Health Star and Vitamin Coach Joel Twinem also weighed in, saying the incident was not staged.
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We reached out to Nippard, Van Wyck and the academy. So far, no sentences again.