Joe Wicks sparks backlash with video of son, four, doing ‘dangerous’ chin-ups on high bar

JOE Wicks has left his followers gobsmacked with the latest picture of his young son Marley doing chin ups.

The fitness guru, 39, posted a snap of the four year old dangling from a metal bar all on his own.

Joe is seen proudly joining in with his little one, who doesn’t appear to have any trouble hanging from the bar in their home gym.

Babies are in fact born with a monkey-strength grip, call the Palmer grasp, which means they can hold their own body weight.

However the video was still shocking for some as Joe’s fans rushed to comment on it, with many not impressed.

“One slip and the kid is crashing to the floor”, one commented beneath his post.

Another said: “Am I the only one holding my breath. One wrong slip of the hand and the boy is seriously injured.”

And a third said: “It’s lovely but if he falls he is going to break his head on that bar.”

However, most of Joe’s fans were full of wonder and praise.

Another said: “Marley can do more pull ups than me!”

One more shared: “YES MARLEY!!! Blimey he is strong.”

Marley completed three chin-ups with his dad.

Captioning his video, Joe said: “I used to call the kids upstairs to the gym to watch me exercise and ask them to join in and learn something new.

“Today I put Marley in the room opposite me with the TV on so I could exercise alone.

“15 minutes later he walked in and said ‘Daddy can I exercise with you?’

“That’s the most wonderful thing about positive role modelling.

“Eventually it becomes something they get their own joy out of teaching our children to enjoy movement and exercise is I think the most important thing we can do as parents.”

He continued his rallying post: “I know it’s hard when it’s cold and wet and you may be feeling low and down yourself but see it as a chance to bond.

“To get outside in nature. To break away from screens and to lift your mood too. Exercise is not a punishment it’s a reward. It’s you being kind to yourself. Going for a walk, a bike ride, or playing hide and seek in the house is all movement.

“It’s all good for you. Pick up the energy in your life today. Keep moving.”

The Body Coach star was a fitness guru to millions of Brits during lockdown.

And he was dubbed “the nation’s PE teacher” for his daily YouTube workouts that were a lifeline to housebound families.

Joe and his wife Rosie welcomed their third child in September 2022 – a sister for daughters Indie, five, and Marley, four.

His fitness business has proved a runaway success, with 11 best-selling books and 4.5million Instagram followers.