M&F beforehand reported that Arnold Schwarzenegger had courted controversy at his traditional 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 in case you ask me how I really feel, if I’m proud of the win, in fact I’m,” mentioned 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 all the things I see on social media, all the things that’s happening, 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 comfortable 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 well-liked 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 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 — a whole lot of these guys — so I don’t know why they make them put on these lengthy shorts,” he mentioned. “For me, that’s bogus.”
Bilal has not solely taken concern 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 arduous because the traditional guys or the open guys, we practice as arduous, deliver good conditioning, deliver good physique. When you simply go to (the) Center East, or no matter Asian international locations, in case you see how well-liked Mens Physique is, it’s loopy.”
He continues: “It brings a lot cash. Simply see my attain. , after I submit a video, or some Open man posts a video, nothing towards anybody, it will get a loopy attain. It’s a really, extremely popular 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 concern with the truth that Schwarzenegger used the phrase “bogus” to explain Males’s Physique. “In the event that they actually needed to see legs, they need to have invited the (212 Division) as a substitute 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 come back 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 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. “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 effectively,” he wrote. “They need to do higher.” M&F will preserve you updated because the story develops.