Ali Bilal To Boycott Arnold Basic After Arnold’s ‘Bogus’ Comment
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 when 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 combined emotions, the present, as a result of the whole lot I see on social media, the whole lot 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 Basic. 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 well-liked Afghanistan-born bodybuilder and was the winner of the 2025 Arnold Basic 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 through the 2025 Arnold Basic reside stream, when he criticized the group throughout commentary on the present for sporting longer shorts than these within the Open or Basic 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 challenge with Arnold’s perspective, however his prize cash as well. “I don’t suppose it’s honest that (the) Open Division get $500,000, Basic will get 60K, and the Mens Physique Division solely get $10,000. It’s not honest. We prep as laborious because the traditional guys or the open guys, we practice as laborious, carry good conditioning, carry good physique. In the event you simply go to (the) Center East, or no matter Asian nations, when you see how well-liked Mens Physique is, it’s loopy.”
He continues: “It brings a lot cash. Simply see my attain. , once I publish 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 massive 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 feel.”
Ali Balal Says He Gained’t Be Again
Balal additional confirmed his intentions to not be again on the Arnold Basic in his accompanying caption, taking challenge with the truth that Schwarzenegger used the phrase “bogus” to explain Males’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 group 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 effectively beneath that of the Open and Basic Divisions however clocked in at $50,000, double that of The Arnold Basic. Bilal’s followers had been fast to help their outspoken hero. “This can be a daring stance only some can take,” wrote one follower. He was additionally backed up by notable bodybuilders together with Erin Banks. “My final yr as effectively,” he wrote. “They need to do higher.” M&F will hold you updated because the story develops.
To observe Ali Bilal on Instagram, click on right here.
