Oscar-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg shocked and confused many Augusta residents when he posted an incendiary video to Instagram for a gym in Aiken. But no one was more confused and angry than gym owner Lou Puleo.
“Someone sent me a link to the Instagram page on Sunday after he posted it,” Workout Anytime owner Aiken said. “At first I thought someone was spamming me. I thought, ‘That’s not true!'”
In the video recorded at about 3 a.m. on Sunday, Wahlberg was standing outside Workout Anytime Aiken. He said they had called earlier to make sure they could train, but no one was there to let them in. He also reprimanded the company for not having 24/7 staff on site.
Earlier: Mark Wahlberg calls out Workout Anytime Aiken gym in early morning Instagram video
“This isn’t ‘always fitness.’ This is ‘part-time, no-time,'” Wahlberg said.
In the description of the post, the actor said he could find another gym, but didn’t specify which gym it was or even if it was nearby.
When The Augusta Chronicle spoke to Puleo on Tuesday, he repeatedly said, “Nobody made the deal.”
So where was the confusion?
Puleo said they got a call on Saturday that went to voicemail from a man who wasn’t Wahlberg who said he and some other guys wanted to come over for a late workout and left a phone number to call back. After seeing Wahlberg’s video, Puleo’s manager looked, found the message, dialed the number, and the man on the other line identified himself as a member of Wahlberg’s team.
The unidentified rep said they spoke to someone at Workout Anytime named Ashley, but Ashley is not an employee. Ashley is the name of the pre-recorded voice that presents itself as part of the voicemail message, but is not a real person. Puleo said that when they tried to explain this, the rep said Wahlberg was not interested and hung up.
More: As Army recruit numbers dwindle, Augusta connections help outperform most
Filmed in Georgia: Savannah shot ‘Glory’ gave touching insight into black soldiers in the Civil War
Puleo said he and his manager also tried to message Wahlberg to sort out this mess, but they haven’t heard anything.
Another point of confusion surrounding this story is that in his video, Wahlberg referred to the company as “Anytime Fitness.” It’s unclear if he was just mistaken or thought he was at an Anytime Fitness gym, though the closest Anytime Fitness is at Aiken in Martinez, about 30 miles away.
This entire incident is deeply disturbing to Puleo and his associates.
When The Augusta Chronicle first contacting them on monday, he hoped this would just go away. But as more people shared the video and reached out to his company, he had to speak up. He shared how proud they are of having built a small business owned by veterans, and that something like that is very serious to them.
“We’ve worked hard to build a good reputation, and in 30 seconds he’s trying to destroy it,” Puleo said of Wahlberg. “That’s just not right.”
But the retired US Marine colonel said the last thing he wants or tries to do is have a fight on social media, especially since there’s no way he can beat someone with 20 million followers.
“I don’t want to discredit Mark Wahlberg. I think he’s a great guy. I enjoy his movies,” said Puleo. “But for him to take off like that, given his status on social media, it’s kind of unfair without stepping back and saying… ‘let me give them a chance to explain why I’m here at 3 a.m.’ night stand and there is no one.'”
Workout Anytime Aiken is open to members 24/7 and is located at 1614 Richland Ave. West in Aiken, SC. For more information, visit workoutanytime.com/aiken.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: After Mark Wahlberg complains on Instagram, Aiken’s gym owner responds
