Public pools in New York City were opened for the 2025 season last week, and a few days later, claims of a "Central Park Pool Brawl" at the newly constructed Gottesman Pool near Harlem have spread on TikTok and Twitter / X.

A viral video of the rumored fight is still at large, though.

Either way, the claims are generating viral reactions and posts across social media platforms. Some are upset with the purported behavior, while others are claiming responsibility for it online.

So, what really went down at the Central Park pool? Was there a "Central Park Pool Brawl," and where are these claims coming from? Let's explain.

Where Did The 'Central Park Pool Brawl' Claim Come From?

On June 30th, 2025, multiple internet users on TikTok started spreading a claim that three fights broke out at the public Gottesman Pool at the Davis Center in New York City's Central Park near Harlem.

In a video posted that day, TikToker @brooklyn_moni claimed that three fights had happened — one between a resident and a lifeguard, another between two women in the ladies' locker room and a final fight between two residents in the mess hall.

@brooklyn_moni NYC can't have nothing #brooklynmoni #centralparkpool #centralparknyc #fypシ #fyppppppppppppppp #nycontentcreator #viralvideo ♬ original sound – BrooklynMoni

In another video, seemingly taken in the aftermath of a fight, TikToker @dani.7.4 claimed that a kid and a lifeguard had squabbled multiple times, were given numerous warnings, and in the end, everyone was kicked out of the pool.

@dani.7.4 Bru this is why NYC can’t hav anything good fr bru😔. I got there at 4:37PM and waited 2 hours just for kids to break into a fight and not get in the pool especially in this scorching heat. Always gotta ruin it for others… #centralparkpooldownhill #centralparkpool #fyp #nyc ♬ original sound – ᥫ᭡

The Central Park pool is the newest NYC pool. The 2025 season is its first season ever.

Its newness has sparked its own subset of discourse surrounding the rumored brawl. "This is why we can't have nice things," is a prominent saying among Upper Manhattanites at the moment.

Is There A 'Central Park Pool Brawl' Video?

It seems that TikToker @dani.7.4's is as close as we have to a primary source, although no fighting is shown in it.

Another video, reposted by X user @CodyJohnson1972, also claims to show one of the Central Park Pool fights from the supposed brawl. If it's real, it appears to be the purported fight that broke out in the mess hall. The video's original source is currently unknown.

Pool in Central Park hasn’t even been open for 5 days have multiple fights have occurred as well as people trashing the pool’s infrastructure. Usual suspects#CentralParkPool #BlackFatigue #newyork pic.twitter.com/V8eb51iNzU

— Cody Johnson (@CodyJohnson1972) July 3, 2025

Also, TikToker @bhynahh posted a video on July 1st, claiming that her friend, seen being escorted by Central Park police in the video, was allegedly one of the people responsible for a fight that day. It's unclear if that's true.

@bhynahh Stop thinking cuss u got on your work uniform u can’t get rocked🤣👊🏼 my girl came right out. #fyp #foryou #centralparkpool #centralparkbrawl #harlem #viral #entertainment #tiktok #summer ♬ original sound – 𝐵𝒽𝓎𝓃𝒶𝒲𝒽𝒾𝓉𝑒🎀

What Are Some More Reactions To The 'Central Park Pool Brawl' Claim?

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7521896529091775774

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7521872901398678814

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7522258306505706782

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7522214705608330510

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For the full history of Central Park Pool Brawl, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.