M&F beforehand reported that Arnold Schwarzenegger had courted controversy at his traditional bodybuilding present this yr throughout commentary, by labeling the board shorts worn within the Mens Physique Division as “bogus.” Now the trophy winner Ali Bilal has responded and in contrast to The Terminator star, it appears he gained’t be again.
“It’s been 5 days since I gained the present, and for those who ask me how I really feel, if I’m proud of the win, after all I’m,” stated Bilal in a heartfelt video posted to his 1.3 million Instagram followers on March 8, 2025. “However it’s simply (given) me a little bit of combined emotions, the present, as a result of every thing I see on social media, every thing that’s occurring, like Arnold saying on present day that Males’s Physique was (a) silly division and I don’t know why the IFBB created it, it simply killed the entire joyful vibes for me, I don’t know why. So, I’ve determined this was my final ever Arnold Traditional. I’m not going to go to a present the place my division, the place I get handled with disrespect.”
Who’s Ali Bilal?
Ali Bilal is an immensely standard Afghanistan-born bodybuilder and was the winner of the 2025 Arnold Traditional Mens Physique title. In 2024, he was runner-up on the Mr Olympia competitors to Ryan Terry. As one of many flag bearers for his division, Bilal has taken umbrage to Arnold’s dismissal of his division.
Schwarzenegger’s most up-to-date negativity in direction of the Mens Physique Division went down through the 2025 Arnold Traditional dwell stream, when he criticized the group throughout commentary on the present for carrying longer shorts than these within the Open or Traditional ranks. “The fascinating factor is in addition they have actually well-developed thighs — loads of these guys — so I don’t know why they make them put on these lengthy shorts,” he stated. “For me, that’s bogus.”
Bilal has not solely taken problem with Arnold’s angle, however his prize cash as well. “I don’t assume it’s honest that (the) Open Division get $500,000, Traditional will get 60K, and the Mens Physique Division solely get $10,000. It’s not honest. We prep as arduous because the traditional guys or the open guys, we prepare as arduous, carry good conditioning, carry good physique. If you happen to simply go to (the) Center East, or no matter Asian nations, for those who see how standard Mens Physique is, it’s loopy.”
He continues: “It brings a lot cash. Simply see my attain. You understand, once I submit a video, or some Open man posts a video, nothing in opposition to anybody, it will get a loopy attain. It’s a really, highly regarded division.” Bilal believes that in distinction, he has been handled with respect at different large reveals. “Think about you prepping for 16-weeks and then you definately go to a present after which somebody inform(s) you, ‘Oh, who invited you right here? We don’t even such as you’. It doesn’t really feel good I believe.”
Ali Balal Says He Gained’t Be Again
Balal additional confirmed his intentions to not be again on the Arnold Traditional in his accompanying caption, taking problem with the truth that Schwarzenegger used the word “bogus” to describe Men’s Physique. “In the event that they actually wished to see legs, they need to have invited the (212 Division) as an alternative of Mens Physique,” he wrote. “I wasn’t even planning on doing the present within the first place, however the crew reached out to me asking me to compete. In return we get disrespected for $25000. I felt like I wanted to return out and spotlight this, since I gained the present and nobody else would communicate their thoughts.”
The prize cash for Mens Physique on the 2024 Olympia was additionally properly beneath that of the Open and Traditional Divisions however clocked in at $50,000, double that of The Arnold Traditional. Bilal’s followers have been fast to help their outspoken hero. “It is a daring stance just a few can take,” wrote one follower. He was additionally backed up by notable bodybuilders together with Erin Banks. “My final yr as properly,” he wrote. “They should do higher.” M&F will maintain you updated because the story develops.
