At the 2026 Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, bodybuilder Martin Fitzwater became part of one of the event’s biggest controversies ever due to his behavior toward fellow competitor Nick Walker, while Andrew Jacked ultimately won the competition. Now, other notable fitness stars are speaking out about the situation. First, here’s what you need to know about what happened.
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During and after the Men’s Open finals, Fitzwater was widely criticized for unsportsmanlike conduct toward Walker. Reports and videos from the event show multiple tense moments between the two competitors, including rumors that Fitzwater allegedly shoved Walker backstage and refused to shake his hand after the results were announced.
Fitzwater came in fourth, while Walker came in second, and Fitzwater was seen celebrating when Walker was announced as the runner-up, which many in the bodybuilding community viewed as disrespectful.
In the days after, Fitzwater lashed out at fans criticizing him. The controversy led to some of his biggest sponsors, RAW and Elev8 Foods, dropping him, and he has since made his Instagram page private.
The incident sparked major backlash online and within the sport, with some commentators and former champions criticizing the behavior as poor sportsmanship, and others fearing that Fitzwater was dealing with mental health struggles. Here are what some of the biggest names have been saying.
Fitzwater’s Girlfriend Alexis Drury Breaks Silence
“While I do encourage the growth and betterment for himself, us, and the community, I stand by Martin, Martin’s girlfriendAlexis Drury, who also snagged bronze at the 2026 Arnold Classic Wellness International, wrote in a now-deleted post. She added that she loves her fans, but ultimately “values her own relationships and self worth much more than any other person’s perception.”
Drury added that many people were pushing her to break up with Fitzwater, which she refused to do, adding that “the messages and comments that have come at myself and others within Martin’s close circle are incredibly disgusting and do nothing to better the sport.”
“It’s true that poor sportsmanship has a negative impact to any sports industry; but so does the cancel culture of today’s society,” she added.
Arnold Classic Winner Andrew Jacked Speaks Out
For his part, the winner of the competition, Jacked, has tried to keep his public comments positive. Behind the scenes, he offered his competitor an all-expenses-paid trip to Costa Rica to unwind amid the backlash via Brett Wilkin, who shared the messages on his Instagram Story.
“We are all humans and we are not perfect, myself included,” Jacked said in the message.
Bodybuilding Legend Phil Heath Reacts
Legendary bodybuilding champ Phil Heath spoke out about the situation on his Instagram Story, saying that while he can’t condone “poor sportsmanship or disrespect” in the sport, he also can’t support “the mob mentality that tries to destroy someone’s life or career over a single moment.”
He added that he believes mental health “is something we still do not talk about enough,” and that he’s sensitive to “human beings dealing with pressure, expectations, and public scrutiny.”
Pro Bodybuilder Iain Valliere Comments
6 X IFBB Pro Show winner Iain Valliere, who is also the brother-in-law of 6-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead, took to his Instagram page to share his thoughts on Fitzwater.
Like Heath, Valliere feared that Fitzwater’s “inexcusable” over-the-top reaction was due to a “perfect storm” of “stress, competitive pressure, past trauma, and anabolic use.”
“Personally I don’t feel the overall punishment fits the crime here,” he added. “Watching the social media world tear [Fitzwater] down to this extent has been pretty disgusting… I hope he’s able to get the help he needs, shift his perspective, and come back to enjoy the truly incredible career he’s capable of having.”
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
