M&F beforehand reported that Arnold Schwarzenegger had courted controversy at his basic bodybuilding present this 12 months 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 should you ask me how I really feel, if I’m pleased with the win, in fact I’m,” stated Bilal in a heartfelt video posted to his 1.3 million Instagram followers on March 8, 2025. “Nevertheless it’s simply (given) me a little bit of blended emotions, the present, as a result of every part I see on social media, every part 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 blissful 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 widespread 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 the direction of the Mens Physique Division went down in the course of the 2025 Arnold Traditional reside stream, when he criticized the group throughout commentary on the present for sporting longer shorts than these within the Open or Traditional ranks. “The attention-grabbing factor is additionally they have actually well-developed thighs — numerous 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 perspective, 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 onerous because the basic guys or the open guys, we prepare as onerous, convey good conditioning, convey good physique. Should you simply go to (the) Center East, or no matter Asian nations, should you see how widespread Mens Physique is, it’s loopy.”
He continues: “It brings a lot cash. Simply see my attain. You already know, once I publish a video, or some Open man posts a video, nothing towards 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 massive exhibits. “Think about you prepping for 16-weeks and you then 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 needed 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 staff 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 converse 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 had been fast to help their outspoken hero. “This can be 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 12 months as properly,” he wrote. “They must do higher.” M&F will maintain you updated because the story develops.