James Haskell launches attack on personal trainer who accused him of manipulating fitness photos

James Haskell sent a series of foul-mouthed messages to a personal trainer who accused him of manipulating before and after images of his lockdown bulk up.  

On Wednesday, the former rugby union player, 36, posted a comparison shot showcasing his 19lbs weight loss. 

Yet personal trainer Ollie Hayes took issue with the images, claiming that the transformation has been enhanced through lighting trickery and posing. 

Foul-mouthed: James Haskell sent a series of foul-mouthed messages to a personal trainer who accused him of manipulating before and after images of his lockdown bulk up

In his original post, James credited training and diet with his transformation, writing:  ‘I got bored in lockdown 2 and saw how big I could get. 130kgs ✌️. Lockdown 3 I have gone the other way. Im 8 weeks in and have gone from 122kgs to 113kgs.

‘Ive been training remotely with @altius_pt. Which has been mega, well thought out and programmed exactly. The idea is to get leaner now and then build back up slowly over the coming week.

‘@madeleychloe created my nutritional plan which I have been following to the letter.

‘Its been really fun to have a goal and stick to it. It gives you purpose, routine and discipline. All things we strive on as humans.’

Not impressed: Personal trainer Ollie Hayes took issue with the images, claiming that the transformation has been enhanced through lighting trickery and posing

Not impressed: Personal trainer Ollie Hayes took issue with the images, claiming that the transformation has been enhanced through lighting trickery and posing

War of words: After Ollie stated that James should have taken images in the same light, the rugby player issued a very crude response peppered with profanities 

Sharing the image on his story, Ollie penned: ‘As an influencer @jameshaskell you should of taken the before shot in the same light as the after. [sic] 

We both know you didn’t tense in the photo on the left and had s**t lighting compared to almost s****ing yourself tensing in great lighting on the right.’ 

James then issued a very crude response, as he shared an image of Ollie’s post that he captioned: ‘Look at this sad c***! One photo is 122kgs the other 113kgs. This basic b***h is saying its lighting and I am not tensing in photo one! 

‘This guy is a melt, he will always be a melt. Try training and tracking then your sausage rig could look like mine [sic].’

James then took things a step further by direct messaging Ollie, writing: ‘What are you talking about you silly c***. 

‘One photo is 122kgs the other 113kgs, f**k the lighting. You are the real problem. Moaning weak c***s who love being average. 

‘Im not an influencer. But I will be your daddy if you keep posting w**k. [sic]’ 

Punch up: James revealed he had sent foul-mouthed messages to the trainer and said social media had made people feel comfortable that they won’t get ‘punched’ for airing their views

He shared a screenshot of his message, adding for his fans: ‘Yes its a bite. But in the words of Mike Tyson “Social media made y’all way to comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it”. [sic]’

In response to the tirade of posts, Ollie – who is also a former rugby player – wrote: ‘The nibble that I’ve been waiting for… Let’s see you now in the left hand room and the same lighting! 

‘You’re the problem to peoples mental health showing bulls**t before and afters… [sic]’. 

Challenge: In response to the tirade of posts, Ollie – who is also a former rugby player – called on James to post more photos in the same lighting 

A short while afterwards, James took to Stories again with more insults, posting: ‘According to @ollie2hayes a pt who works out his wifes garden shed. Said these photo’s gave people the wrong impression. [sic]

‘It was tricking them into a sense of false hope. He called me out on it for some reason. Never heard of him or had anything to do with him. I assume he wanted attention. However, i have to call muppets on their BS. [sic]

‘So I responded, he cried and said show me a photo of you now in the same light, same pace. So i did. See next slide. [sic]’

He then posted another comparison image posing in the same space as his before image that he captioned: ‘This morning I took this. Unlucky bro @ollie2hayes. I guess you will have to attack someone else to make you, and your very average set up feel better. 

‘Guess what kids, put the work in and you can make s**t happen. Listen to Ollie and you can stay fat, s**t, and poor. Peace.’

Despite James posing in the same location, Ollie took issue with the lighting, penning: ‘Much more realistic. But I don’t see a shadow behind you on the left compared to the light.

‘Well done on losing 9kg’. 

Insults: A short while afterwards, James took to Stories again with more insults, as he took on Ollie's challenge of sharing new photographs

Insults: A short while afterwards, James took to Stories again with more insults, as he took on Ollie’s challenge of sharing new photographs 

He then demonstrated how easy it is to fake before and after transformations, as he shared a video going from bloated to buff in just seconds. 

He captioned the clip: ‘Remember kids “Influencers” only show you what they want you to see! … Every time you see a great shot of celeb with their great body out …

‘Remember it’s probably great lighting and a great camera #SocialMedia #beforeandafterbulls**t [sic]’  

The post didn’t go down well with James, who took to the comments and wrote ‘pussy’. 

Well done: Despite James posing in the same location, Ollie took issue with the lighting, saying the shadows looked different, but did congratulate him on his weight loss

After the pair’s back and forth, James’ wife Chloe Madeley then appeared to get involved as she shared a thinly veiled post about critics on Instagram.   

Chloe is a qualified personal trainer and nutritionist. She is also the youngest child of presenting duo Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan 

She wrote: This weird phenomenon of calling everyone out for some likes and “schtick” needs to stop. Cancel culture is vile.

‘Far too many people have taken it upon themselves to police instagram and they do so by tearing into others. “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.

‘Unless you’ve been living under a rock, we all know by now who’s airbrushed up to the eyeballs promoting a load of balls and who is posting good honest content. And it’s up to us who we follow and why. 

‘I follow both because I like looking at airbrushed millionaires in mansions and pretending it’s me. As well as educated and impressive individuals who inspire me to work harder and learn more.

‘The bottom line is it’s your responsibility who you follow and why. People who think they’re solely responsible for lifting the veil on social media by attacking individuals need a reality check.’ 

Before: Ollie then demonstrated how easy it is to fake before and after transformations

After: Ollie shared a video going from bloated to buff in just seconds

Before and after: Ollie then demonstrated how easy it is to fake before and after transformations, as he shared a video going from bloated to buff in just seconds

Not impressed: The post didn't go down well with James, who took to the comments and wrote 'pussy', with Ollie replying using a fishing rod emoji

Not impressed: The post didn’t go down well with James, who took to the comments and wrote ‘pussy’, with Ollie replying using a fishing rod emoji 

This isn’t the first time James has garnered controversy on social media. 

In February last year, the sports star was criticised for commenting that Jacqueline Jossa looked like she was ‘waiting for the sunshine bus’ on an Instagram snap.

The former EastEnders actress, 27, uploaded a photo of herself, taken by husband Dan Osborne, where she stood on the beach in front of a goal posts with a football.

James, who became friends with Jacqueline in the I’m A Celebrity jungle, commented on the picture, writing: ‘You look like you are waiting for the sunshine bus and if anyone touches your football you will go mad.’ 

‘Sunshine bus’ is a term used to describe transport for people with disabilities, and many social media users took issue with James’ comment. 

Wading in: After the pair's back and forth, James' wife Chloe Madeley then appeared to get involved as she shared a thinly veiled post about critics on Instagram

Wading in: After the pair’s back and forth, James’ wife Chloe Madeley then appeared to get involved as she shared a thinly veiled post about critics on Instagram

Cancel culture: Chloe - who is a qualified personal trainer and nutritionist - shared a lengthy post calling out cancel culture

Cancel culture: Chloe – who is a qualified personal trainer and nutritionist – shared a lengthy post calling out cancel culture 

Richard Lawrence, Project Support Assistant at Mencap [a charity based in the UK that works with people with a learning disability] and who has a learning disability, said: 

‘People may think comments like this are just a joke but they encourage bullying and discrimination towards people with a learning disability, like me.

‘People with a learning disability have feelings just like everyone else and name-calling is hurtful and emotionally damaging.

‘I’m really glad to see that people have spoken out about how wrong this kind of comment is, but if we had more awareness about learning disability then it wouldn’t happen in the first place.’ 

Shocking: In February last year, the sports star was criticised for commenting that Jacqueline Jossa looked like she was 'waiting for the sunshine bus' on an Instagram snap

Shocking: In February last year, the sports star was criticised for commenting that Jacqueline Jossa looked like she was ‘waiting for the sunshine bus’ on an Instagram snap 

Reaction: 'Sunshine bus' is a term used to describe transport for people with mental disabilities, and many social media users took issue with James' comment

Reaction: ‘Sunshine bus’ is a term used to describe transport for people with mental disabilities, and many social media users took issue with James’ comment 

James also prompted complaints from I’m A Celebrity viewers when he made a comment about fellow contestant Ian Wright having a ‘clubfoot’.

During an episode that aired in 2019, James watched Ian run about the campsite and said: ‘He’s completely lost the plot! Look at that clubfoot’.

According to Metro, Ofcom received 78 complaints in relation to the comment while clubfoot charity Steps UK said it could encourage bullying. 

Complaints: James also prompted complaints from I'm A Celebrity viewers when he made a comment about fellow contestant Ian Wright (pictured) having a 'clubfoot'

Complaints: James also prompted complaints from I’m A Celebrity viewers when he made a comment about fellow contestant Ian Wright (pictured) having a ‘clubfoot’