A video showing fitness influencer Goob being taken into custody was staged to advertise an upcoming charity food giveaway, according to a Suffolk County Police Department spokesperson cited by TMZ. The department said the arrest was not real.
The video was posted on Monday by fellow fitness influencer Joey Swoll, who appeared surprised and said he had never expected to call out someone he considered a friend. Swoll said he did not yet have all the facts about what had happened.
Goob later asked his Instagram followers for “privacy and grace” as the video circulated. He also shared what appeared to be a letter from an attorney warning about possible criminal charges and the right to remain silent, and said he would issue a statement approved by his legal team. In the post, he insisted the incident was not a skit.
Police said the footage was part of filming social media posts for a food giveaway planned for later this month. Goob has previously staged elaborate holiday skits to promote charity food giveaways.
Sources: TMZ.