A fitness influencer with more than 112,000 Instagram followers and 101,000 YouTube subscribers has been arrested in Indiana, where authorities allege he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl on at least three occasions.l;
Brian Divine, 44, was arrested by Indianapolis police on November 26, after they were tipped to a possible rape occurring in a home’s basement, according to online court records accessed by Us Weekly.
As police led Divine away in handcuffs, investigators discovered a 16-year-old girl had been in the basement with him. They spoke to the girl, who said she had three separate “sexual encounters” with Divine.
First, though, she got drunk with Divine, she allegedly told police, adding she was helping the married content creator install a home gym at a warehouse on the city’s west side, according to online court records.
The girl claimed the first encounter happened in October, and that Divine plied her with both beer and vodka. Divine reportedly began kissing the intoxicated teen and then raped her twice inside the warehouse’s garage, it is alleged in the affidavit.
Weeks later, Divine allegedly invited the girl to his home while his wife was out of town. Again, the victim received alcohol from Divine as well as cigarettes. They then had sex in his bed.
Last week, the victim’s mother allegedly found deleted screenshots from a chat the girl had online with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), and called police.
Divine allegedly admitted to detectives he sexually assaulted the teen three different times but characterized the encounters as consensual — initiated by her. He also allegedly told police he gave the girl alcohol and marijuana, according to online court records.
PEOPLE reported that on the day Divine was arrested, his wife shared a post to his Instagram, reading, in part, “This is Kyle’s wife. Not a joke. He’s going to jail.”
Divine was charged with felony child seduction and six counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which is a misdemeanor.
He is being held without bond, and it was unclear Thursday if he had entered pleas to the charges he faces. Us Weekly was unable to identify if he has an attorney.
A self-described “gym bro” and “home gym enthusiast,” Divine is losing Instagram followers fast. Since being arrested, he’s lost nearly 4,000 followers.
His YouTube account, Kaizen DIY Gym, has over 100,000 subscribers and has generated over 62 million views. In his videos, he shares “creative hacks to make your gear work harder for you” as well as “honest equipment reviews to help you make informed decisions.”
He also has close to 50,000 TikTok followers.
Divine claims to have invented the Fringe Mammoth Belt Squat, claiming he designed it to alleviate back strain while squatting, especially for people with mobility limitations.
“By decreasing joint stress, it minimizes strain on the knees, hips, and lower back,” reads the product’s website.
His own site claims it is “one of the most versatile and space-efficient belt squats on the market” and “an excellent addition to any home gym.”
Divine is due to appear in court on December 12.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
