Controversy is still rippling through the bodybuilding community after the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro. In a YouTube video shared on June 9, 2025, Derek Lunsford opened up on the struggles he faced following his big win.
The 2025 Pittsburgh Pro was historic. Despite being counted out by pros and fans alike, Nick Walker turned in possibly the strongest performance of his career. He led the scorecards during prejudging, but when finals came, he lost a tie-breaker round to Derek Lunsford.
Lunsford won the Olympia title in 2023 and has plans to regain the Sandow trophy, especially after beating Samson Dauda at the 2025 Arnold Classic. Usually, when a bodybuilding contest ends, athletes have fewer problems to contend with, though that wasn’t the case for Lunsford. In addition to his grandmother’s passing, he’s said Nick Walker fans have forced him to put his phone away.
Derek Lunsford Questions Nick Walker Supporters After His Controversial Pittsburgh Pro Win
In the recent YouTube video, Lunsford was critical of Nick Walker fans, whom he said show support by tearing others down.
“I win, and then I’m hit with this news that my grandma passes away. And then I honestly don’t care, I mean I do care to some degree what people say in bodybuilding. Then you’re hit with all the Nick Walker fans.
Look, Nick is an amazing bodybuilder. It’s great he has his fans. I think it’s somewhat good for the sport. I think it’s good for the sport that the fans support their favorite athletes. Now, how they support by tearing other people down is not really a good thing, but that’s why I don’t ever encourage my supporters to do that.”
Lunsford confirmed that the mental and physical toll was overwhelming leading into Pittsburgh.
“Nonetheless, I’m getting hit with that so I just put my phone away,” he shared. “I was hanging on by a thread to get to the show. After I came back from Germany, it was a struggle getting to Pittsburgh. Mentally and physically, it was the hardest time I’ve ever had to get to a show.”
This hasn’t been the first time Lunsford has talked about aggressive fans. In 2023, when Lunsford secured his maiden Olympia title, some Hadi Choopan fans had a problem with the victory. In response, Lunsford called for more positivity in the sport.
“I think we need to stick together, support one another, and instead of constantly criticizing and saying this guy can be better here or this guy is lacking this,” he shared.
Despite the controversy, Lunsford will aim to silence Walker’s fans on the horizon. The 2025 Mr. Olympia takes place October 9-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
RELATED: Samson Dauda On 2023 Mr. Olympia Aftermath: “The Negativity Is Going Too Far”
Watch the full video from the Derek Lunsford YouTube channel below:
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Derek won Pitts and Arnold and half the crowd booed. Derek take the hint. You got beat both times. You do not have the size to be Mr. O again. I have no respect for cry babies