This just in: There is a burgeoning network of online “fascist fitness” groups focused on recruiting young men and radicalizing them with neo-Nazi and white supremacist ideology. The recruits are roped in with exercise tips, and then exposed to far-right content.
MSNBC recently published an article on this troubling phenomenon, which is certainly worth reporting on. However, the network’s tweet makes it seem like right-wing extremists have co-opted the thirst trap.
And the gays won’t stand for that!
“The far right’s obsession with fitness is going digital,” the tweet reads.
In response to the article, a member of Gay Twitter™ issued a challenge to his 57,000+ followers: “QT this with a pic if you’re far left and obsessed with fitness, tryna see something.”
Almost immediately, gays started to flood our timelines with shirtless selfies and workout pics. There’s one for every occasion, including fighting fascism!
As the MSNBC piece details, there’s a long history of far-right figures emphasizing physical fitness and the hyper-masculine tropes that go along with it. Adolf Hitler, for example, extolled the virtues of boxing and jujitsu in Mein Kampf.
These days, right-wing extremists in the U.S. are building their own fight-club culture. The leader of a Maryland skinhead group opened a gym for the specific purpose of “recruiting and training white supremacists in the mixed martial arts.”
Four members of a group called Rise Above Movement, which bills itself as the “premier MMA club of the alt-right,” pled guilty to charges stemming from the deadly 2017 riot in Charlottesville. RAM’s founder recently created a media company that was on the scene during the Jan. 6 Insurrection.
The far-right’s obsession with MMA isn’t surprising. In addition to the sport’s brutality, UFC president Dana White is an ardent supporter of Donald Trump.
Former WWE chairman Vince McMahon, another long-time Trump loyalist, is also known for his bulging pecs and biceps… which he keeps showing off well into his 70s.
In recent weeks, we’ve seen a deluge of toxically masculine billionaires (and one presidential candidate) show off their bods and challenge each other to fights. Most notably, Elon Musk, who tweeted in October he was fasting and taking Wegovy, a prescription drug used to curtail obesity, is intent on battling Meta founder Mark Zuckberberg in a cage match.
In response, Zuckerberg texted White, who confirmed Musk’s seriousness.
For weeks, Zuckerberg has been touting his #bodygoals, and announced he’s preparing for his MMA debut.
Just last month, Republican Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin challenged a well-known union boss to an MMA battle. Around the same time, Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy (who’s become a far-right favorite due to his embrace of conspiracy theories) shared photos and videos of himself pumping iron on Venice Beach… though many pointed out he actually wasn’t benching that much weight.
So you get the picture: the thirst trap, long the domain of gays looking for admiration, is now trendy among some loathsome figures.
Fortunately, at least one high-profile Democrat, New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman, showed that liberals have muscles, too.
But back to the gays. We are the masters of sweaty selfies, and don’t want anybody to forget it. Muscles look even better in good lightning, and we know how to find it!
Want proof? Scroll down for more of our best work…
Prax07
Gay Twitter, is that something different than actual Twitter? Haven’t ever really used Twitter so no clue.
bachy
Nice to see the gays doing something original and different for a change!
ShaverC
Fascist fitness? More nonsense to make people afraid.
abfab
Your face (one can only imagine what you look like) and your entire being make others afraid. You reek and your personality is putrified. Fitness? You?
ShaverC
abfab, If you could guess what I look like I’ll give you a prize.
abfab
Rejection. You’re a child.
dbmcvey
DeSantis isn’t there and he is the face of fascism in America, but, I don’t think anyone wants to see him with his shirt off.
Kangol2
Rep. Jamal Bowman (D-NY) is the real deal in terms of a progressive Congressman, and he’s also giving in the muscle thickness department. They better think twice about challenging him to a fistfight or MMA session!
But back to the GQP, right-wingers and their masculinity and gender fixations, they’re always projecting their inadequacies and fragility on everyone else, and then use terms like “snowflake,” “cuck,” etc. Just remember, they’re talking about themselves.
G A Y L O R D
How much is twitter paying you guys to make it seem like people are still on twitter??????