On March 14, the bodybuilding community was hit with shocking news—reports surfaced claiming that Robby Robinson, aka “The Black Prince,” had passed away at 78. The rumor quickly spread after a social media post from Rick Valente, a longtime friend and training partner.
Fans and fellow athletes immediately flooded the internet with tributes and condolences, believing they had lost a true legend. However, the reports turned out to be completely false.
Shawn Ray, another bodybuilding great, later deleted his own tribute post and confirmed that Robinson was alive and well. But now, we’ve heard directly from Robinson himself.
Robby Robinson Reacts to His Own Death Hoax
After seeing the chaos unfold, Robinson took to social media to personally set the record straight.
“TO ALL MY FANS FOLLOWERS. IT WAS PAINFUL to find out about my DEATH. I had just finished my Chest/Back workout when I was notified that I had passed away. I received hundreds of calls and messages from all over the world. I was unable to answer all the messages and telephone calls. But I want to say thank you to all for your condolences, love, heart-touching messages… I AM ALIVE and feel Blessed.”
Robinson was literally mid-workout when he was informed about his supposed passing—proving that The Black Prince is still going strong in the gym.
How the Rumor Started
The false reports stemmed from a now-deleted Instagram post by Rick Valente, which many took as confirmation of Robinson’s death. Without official verification, the news spread rapidly across social media, leading to widespread tributes.
It wasn’t until Shawn Ray later posted a correction that people realized the story was false. But even after Ray’s update, some fans were still confused—until Robinson personally addressed the situation.
Robby is Alive!!! Thank God 🙏🏽❤️ why Wikipedia posted that he had passed, I will never understand why. I was heartbroken and I’m sorry so many people were heartbroken 💔 Robby is Alive 🙏🏽👏🏼👊
Robby Robinson’s Legacy Continues
Despite the bizarre situation, Robinson’s impact on bodybuilding remains undeniable. The former Masters Olympia champion and Pumping Iron star continues to inspire generations of athletes with his longevity, training wisdom, and dedication to the sport.
At 78, he still trains intensely, collaborates with fitness influencers like Mike O’Hearn, and shares insights from a lifetime of bodybuilding.
This incident highlights how quickly misinformation can spread—and why it’s always important to verify before sharing.
Fortunately, Robinson is alive, healthy, and still putting in work at the gym. If anything, this serves as a reminder to celebrate legends while they’re still here.
What’s your favorite Robby Robinson moment? Drop a comment below!
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