Martin Fitzwater has been dropped by RAW Nutrition after allegedly shoving Nick Walker during the Arnold Classic.
It’s no secret that the pair have developed a rivalry during their bodybuilding careers, and that needle was once again evident as they competed in the Men’s Open over the weekend.
Fitzwater, who finished fourth, was seen wildly celebrating when it was announced that Walker placed second, narrowly missing out on a record $750,000 prize.
“The Martian” then shook everyone’s hand except Walker’s, before reportedly shoving his nemesis backstage during an altercation.
Walker confirmed online that he was pushed and, while it’s not yet clear whether the IFBB will look into the incident, Fitzwater’s sponsors have already moved to distance themselves from him in the aftermath.
Despite not naming him directly, RAW put out a statement severing ties with the American muscleman.
“As a brand, we do not condone behavior that conflicts with our core values and principles,” the brand wrote.
“Respect, professionalism, and sportsmanship are nonnegotiable for us.
“When actions or circumstances arise that no longer align with those standards, it becomes necessary for us to reevaluate partnerships.”
Elev8 Foods made a similar move, saying Martin Fitzwater’s conduct fell short of its expected standards.
“After recent events this past weekend, we’ve made the decision to end our partnership with Martin Fitzwater,” it said.
“At Elev8 Foods, we hold our athletes and partners to standards that reflect our values, our community, and the brand we’ve built together.
“Unfortunately, what occurred does not align with those standards.
“Our focus remains on building a positive, respectful community and continuing to grow Elev8 with athletes and partners who truly represent those values.
“We appreciate your understanding and continued support.”
Amid all the drama, it was Andrew Jacked who claimed top spot at the Men’s Open in Columbus, Ohio. However, Walker was much improved from his underwhelming performance at the Olympia, with many fans believing he had done enough to claim the coveted title.
Martin Fitzwater Speaks Following His Arnold Performance
Speaking on Sunday, Martin Fitzwater said the show was the “worst” and “most embarrassing” of his life.
Clearly deflated by his fourth-place finish, Fitzwater declared his prep as the “hardest ever for the sh*ttiest result,” before stating he would be taking a break from social media.
His comments – and the resulting fan backlash – led to bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest calling for a ceasefire.
The now-retired IFBB Pro acknowledged that Fitzwater did display poor conduct but said a community pile-on could damage his mental health.
“He could just be in a bad place,” he said in a video on Instagram.
“So, I just don’t want to see anything bad happen to him. When people are in a bad space reading all those comments where everyone’s coming down you might do something silly, then how are you people going to feel if he does something?
“Oh, he deserves it, blah, blah blah. Yes, you can say he needs to grow up. Reading a lot of your comments, a lot of you people are no better. You should have learned too. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.
“Maybe reach out, give him some support. Maybe people on his team can give him some support. No one knows what other people are going through.”
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