He can make every half-hearted attempt at backtracking or trying to explain away his abhorrent actions on the Olympia stage, but Hadi Choopan disgraced himself, his opponents, the IFBB, Olympia and sport of bodybuilding. The defending champion should have taken what was a tough decision with grace and behave accordingly to what would have amounted to approximately half a minute longer for a few photographs with the top five. But he not only removed his second place silver medal while walking away, but openly dismissed emcee Bob Cicherillo with a negative wave off when reminded he needed to stay for the pictures.
It was such a blatant disregard that another former winner – Brandon Curry – pointed at Choopan and the look on all the remaining bodybuilders’ faces told the story. The consummate professional Curry immediately took control of the situation and stepped to his left towards winner Derek Lunsford, embraced his hand and the other two competitors (Samson Duada and Andrew jacked) did the same for the photos with all their arms raised in victory.
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His feeble Instagram posts pursuant to his actions did little-to-nothing to change any of the perception that his actions gave. And his fanbase’s reaction has been even more disgusting than Choopan’s. (EDITOR’S NOTE: While Choopan cannot be faulted for then actions of his followers, he hasn’t made any statements condemning them, either.) They have turned this into a political and social issue by saying that it was ‘racism’ against Muslims and especially Iranians here in the USA that gave Lunsford – a white American – the Sandow.
The last white American Mr. Olympia was Jay Cutler back in 2010, by the way, and the last two champions before Saturday night were Muslims – Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay in 2020 and 2021 and Choopan in 2022.
But the cries and complaints from the Choopan base has been one that look to point fingers at everyone else instead of just dealing with a close loss to Lunsford, who looked better than Choopan, especially in the waist. So they went after Lunsford’s Instagram account and also did the unthinkable – send Lunsford’s pregnant wife photos of their private parts. That goes way beyond any lines in the sand.
They cry racism even louder due to the war in Israel and there is no in between, according to them; you pick one side or the other. And if you do not pick theirs, you’re a white supremacist.
Have it your way, Choopan fans.
