A gym employee in Miami was left with horrific facial injuries after being punched in the face by a female member during a violent confrontation at a Planet Fitness branch.
Violent Confrontation Over Locker Room Disturbance
The incident occurred on December 12 after staff asked Kiara Bryant, 35, to lower her voice. According to an arrest report obtained by the Daily Mail, Bryant had been "causing a disturbance in the locker room, yelling and being disorderly." The employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, told her she could not yell on the premises and asked her to quieten down or leave, threatening to call the police.
This request allegedly incensed Bryant, leading to a direct confrontation. Video footage of the incident appears to show Bryant jumping over the service counter into a staff-only area while shouting obscenities and chasing the worker. The arrest report states she did this twice before, on a third attempt, she "repeatedly" punched the employee in the nose with a closed fist.
Arrest and Aftermath of the Gym Assault
X-ray images shared with the Daily Mail by the victim's attorney, Alecsander Kohn, confirmed the worker sustained a broken nose. After the attack, Bryant left the gym and attempted to drive away but was confronted by bystanders. The report claims she then exited her vehicle and tried to "fight everyone."
Bryant was subsequently arrested without incident. She faces charges of misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct and was later released from jail after posting a $150 bond.
Calls for Stronger Charges and Gym's Response
The victim's lawyer, Alecsander Kohn, told CBS Miami that the current misdemeanor charges do not reflect the severity of the attack. "She took things too far, brutally battered our client, and ultimately, left him in the hospital with a broken nose and severe emotional distress," Kohn stated. He is advocating for the charges to be upgraded to felony battery.
In a statement following the December 12 attack, Planet Fitness confirmed they had cancelled Bryant's membership and cooperated fully with law enforcement. "We have zero tolerance for violence of any kind in our clubs," the statement read, reiterating the company's commitment to member safety.
The victim is still under medical care, awaiting further prognosis from doctors regarding his injuries.
