Sikh TikToker claims he was ‘Racially Singled Out’ over Kirpan at Gym

A Sikh TikToker claimed he was “racially singled out” when he was asked to leave a gym because he was wearing a kirpan.

Gurpartap Singh Khalsa shared the video on TikTok following the incident at the Windsor Douglas GoodLife Fitness centre in Canada.

According to Gurpartap, a staff member asked him to leave after another gym-goer raised concerns.

He is heard saying: “So you’re kicking me out of the gym right now?

“You’re kicking me out of the gym right now because you are scared that I’m gonna take my religious symbol?

“You’re scared that I’m gonna take this religious symbol and kill somebody?”

The staff member replied: “What I’m saying is you have a weapon on your person.

“A member has brought it to my attention, and for the safety of me and everybody else in the gym, I’m asking you to leave.”

Gurpartap questioned the decision, arguing that staff had already allowed him into the gym while he was wearing the kirpan.

When the employee suggested they had not noticed the kirpan, the situation appeared to become more confrontational:

“Oh, you didn’t see it? So. You didn’t see it? So what were you doing then? So what do you do then? What do they pay you for?

“They don’t pay you to look around. They don’t pay you to be aware. You just let any random person in the gym then you didn’t see me walking with this.”

Gurpartap was then accused of harassment, something he denied:

“I’m not harassing you. I’m standing right here. I’m not harassing anybody.

“This is insane. Getting kicked out of the gym because these guys are apparently saying that this kirpan is dangerous. GoodLife in Windsor. GoodLife in Windsor. It’s crazy.”

The TikToker later alleged that the incident amounted to racial profiling, accusing the employee of treating his religious article as a threat.

The kirpan is one of the five articles of faith observed by initiated Sikhs.

While it is a ceremonial dagger, it also has religious significance and symbolises a Sikh’s duty to protect justice and defend the vulnerable.

@dreambodygurp I WAS TARGETED THIS GIRL SAID SHE IS SCARED BECAUSE I AM CARRYING A KNIFE (KIRPAN) ASKED ME TO LEAVE BUT SHE LET ME IN KNOWING I HAD IT ON…THIS IS GOOD LIFE WINDSOR DOUGLAS @GoodLife Fitness UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR #tiktok #fyp #motivation #waheguru #viral ? original sound – Gurpartap Singh Khalsa

The video sparked debate on social media, with some arguing that the employee was responding to a reported safety concern.

One wrote:

“A kirpan can be used as a weapon; it’s a knife despite the fact you carry it without the intention of EVER using it.”

Another said: “This isn’t racist, she’s kicking him out for the safety of others.”

However, others believed it was a case of racism, as one person commented:

“Racism, they just wanted you gone, kirpans are never used to harm people.”

The incident comes nearly two months after the kirpan was at the centre of a murder trial in the UK.

It had initially been reported that Vickrum Digwa had used a kirpan to stab student Henry Nowak to death.

It was later revealed that although Digwa was carrying a kirpan, the murder weapon was another knife that was in his possession.