Retired bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest believes the sport is due for a makeover. In a YouTube video aired on Nov. 5, 2025, Priest compared judges to politicians and called for an overhaul, suggesting the IFBB Pro League take on younger talents.
Bodybuilding is subjective in nature; judges are tasked with evaluating physiques onstage, which often look vastly different from each other. This ‘apples and oranges’ dilemma has reared its head following just about every top-level contest.
At the 2025 Mr. Olympia, Derek Lunsford reclaimed the title against runner-up Hadi Choopan and Andrew Jacked. In the show’s aftermath, judging was brought into question. Though Priest mostly agreed with how the event played out, he believes the rightful winner should have been Choopan or Jacked. Shawn Ray also thought Choopan deserved the victory.
It’s time for real change, according to Priest. He and Paul Dillett have noticed that the judges who scored them two decades ago are still in power. For the growth of the sport, he wants to see new faces on the judging panel.
Lee Priest Pushes For Change to Bodybuilding Judging: “We Need New Blood In There”
In the video, Priest compared bodybuilding judges to politicians, who have been scrutinized for serving decades in office. He believes it’s time for new blood to take over the judging panel.
“I think Paul Dillett said it, when he goes to the shows and he sees the judges… they are the same ones that were judging us back in the 90s and 2000s.
It’s like, look, I understand, but come on, it’s like politicians, you got to get the fuck out. We need new blood in there, new minds, and new sets of eyes.”
He added that some judges have become too comfortable with the luxuries of their job. Instead, Priest suggested the IFBB Pro League draft new talent:
“I think some people just get complacent because they get to go on these free trips. They get a hotel paid for and stuff like that, so they just like being a part of it, so they keep going back. I think we need new young judges in there to judge,” Lee Priest said.
Priest isn’t the only bodybuilding icon to push for judging changes. After the 2025 Mr. Olympia, Lee Haney said he found the results confusing. To rectify this issue, he believes the Mr. Olympia should have a tall and short class in the Men’s Open.
While judges like Steve Weinberger, Sandy Williamson, and Tyler Manion have a strong foothold, some believe it’s time to bring in younger, fresher eyes. Priest contends that it could help grow the sport to new heights.
Watch the full video from the MuscleTV YouTube channel below:
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