Martin Fitzwater is back on social media. The bodybuilder has finally addressed the controversy that erupted around him at the 2026 Arnold Classic.

Fitzwater, who finished in fourth place, ticked off the entire community with his reaction toward rival Nick Walker. Instead of celebrating his own win, Fitzwater pumped his fist when Walker missed out on the 750K purse and placed second.

Additionally, during the award ceremony, he was seen completely ignoring Walker and refusing to shake his hand. Following the backlash, Martin Fitzwater went dark before finally taking to Instagram on March 12.

"What happened last weekend was out of character, and I take full responsibility for it," the 29-year-old wrote, taking accountability for his behaviour.

“I've always been someone who struggles with losing, but the past couple of years, I’ve worked hard toward a better version of myself to learn how to handle these moments better. This weekend I failed at that," added the IFBB pro.

Fitzwater apologized directly to the fans, the competitors who shared the stage with him, and the organizers of the Arnold Classic.

His actions led to a public outcry and even led his sponsors, RAW Nutrition and Elev8 Foods, to cut ties with him. In his statement, Fitzwater admitted that his emotions got the better of him and expressed regret for how the situation unfolded.

The Olympia contender also explained that he has been dealing with personal struggles. However also said, "that doesn’t excuse my behavior."

Martin Fitzwater had to face the fallout

The bodybuilding community almost unanimously voiced its disapproval, and it wasn't just the fans. Former pros, like 7x Mr. Olympia Phil Heath, took to social media.

Heath addressed the issue on his Instagram story, condoning it as "poor sportsmanship or disrespect." However, also expressed his disdain for the mob mentality and the obsession of a section of people calling for Fitzwater's downfall.

Martin Fitzwater also lost sponsors following the incident. "When actions or circumstances arise that no longer align with those standards, it becomes necessary for us to reevaluate partnerships," supplement brand RAW posted on social media.

However, not all of it was negative. Andrew Jacked sympathized with Fitzawater and offered him an all-expenses-paid trip to Costa Rica to unwind amid the backlash.

Former bodybuilder Fouad Abiad even commented on the post by @beyondthestagetv that reported Fitzwater's apology, writing, "Good for him, man. This is a good start back for Martin."

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi