2 days ago
Miami YouTuber claims viral gym beatdown was ‘consensual,' court filings show
A Miami-based YouTube personality is denying any wrongdoing in a lawsuit accusing him of orchestrating a violent four-on-one assault inside a Wynwood gym — arguing instead that the man at the center of the incident 'consented' to the encounter.
Wes Watson, a social media influencer known for his expletive-laced motivational videos, filed a response in Miami-Dade court on June 6 refuting claims that he and others ambushed Hakeem Ibrahim at Elev8tion Fitness on Dec. 29, 2024. The gym is located at 1625 N. Miami Ave., near Wynwood.
Watson, who has nearly 600,000 YouTube subscribers on his channel, GP Penitentiary Life, contends he acted in self-defense and in defense of others. His court filing also claims that Ibrahim, the plaintiff, 'consented to the alleged physical contact' by showing up at the location after Watson issued an open challenge on social media.
The civil complaint filed by Ibrahim describes a far more violent confrontation. The 57-page lawsuit alleges that Ibrahim was lured to the gym under the pretense of a challenge and then attacked by Watson, a co-owner of the gym and two unidentified men. The lawsuit details the use of a weightlifting belt and dumbbells during the incident and alleges that racial slurs and death threats were made. A gym employee allegedly congratulated Watson with a fist bump afterward.
Surveillance footage of the altercation was later posted to Reddit, where it went viral. The video shows a man being kicked, dragged by the hair and struck multiple times while pinned to the ground. Watson has not publicly commented on the lawsuit but continues to post videos to his YouTube channel.
The December incident also led to Watson's arrest on April 29. He was charged with aggravated battery and aggravated assault. According to an arrest report obtained by the Miami Herald through a public records request, Watson was identified as the 'primary aggressor' and accused of launching a 'vicious and sustained physical attack.'
The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office initially filed both felony charges but later issued 'no action' notices on May 22, effectively dropping the charges for now. A court hearing on the criminal case remains scheduled for July 28, leaving the door open for possible reactivation.
Watson initially missed the deadline to respond to the civil lawsuit, prompting a judge to enter a default against him on June 4. The court later set aside the default and granted him until June 6 to respond, which he did.
He is now demanding a jury trial.
Watson's rise to fame stems from his viral videos, often filmed from gyms or the front seat of a luxury vehicle, in which he discusses personal discipline, prison life and self-improvement. His confrontational style has earned both a large following and frequent controversy.
A new video was posted to his YouTube page last week, titled 'Rather Die On My Feet, Than Worship On My Knees.'
