Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Bodybuilding Events Lose Major Supplement Sponsor REDCON1 Over Actor’s Comments On Mask Mandates

Following the actor’s recent comments about mask mandates, Aaron Singerman, fitness entrepreneur and founder of bodybuilding supplement REDCON1, has announced that his company will no longer sponsor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding events.

The actor gave his controversial comments during a recent interview with retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman and CNN’s Brianna Golodryga, declaring to those individuals unwilling to get the COVID-19 vaccine, “Screw your freedom”, before labelling said persons as “schmucks”.

Source: REDCON1, YouTube

“After much deliberation, we have decided at REDCON1 to no longer sponsor the Arnold Classic or any of the Arnold events around the world, and also no attend the Arnold events,” said Singerman in a video posted to REDCON1’s official YouTube channel on August 16th.

“Over the years I’ve overlooked a lot of stuff; you probably too,” he continued. “I’ve overlooked a lot of stuff with Arnold where I said ‘Well, that’s just Arnold, right?’ And because we love him so much we just keep overlooking, and overlooking, and overlooking.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in Skydance Productions and Paramount Pictures’ “TERMINATOR: DARK FATE.”

“Well, unfortunately, his most recent comments… so, when somebody says ‘screw your freedom’ I can’t, and REDCON1 can’t in good conscious continue to spend, you know hundreds of thousands of dollars sponsoring that person or show with a name honouring that person,” Singerman concluded.

As to why he made this decision, Singerman explained that it was not made out of partisan divides or because of political ideas, but because of his own belief that “America is great because there’s freedoms.”

Source: Arnold Schwarzenegger, YouTube

Related: Arnold Schwarzenegger Says You’re A “Schmuck” If You Don’t Wear A Mask: “Screw Your Freedom”

“Arnold is free to say the things he wants to say, right?” said Singerman. “He may say things I totally disagree with. Somebody else may say things that I find disgusting. That’s what makes America great. You have the ability to say it. I have the ability to disagree. I’m voting with the REDCON1 dollars that I don’t want to be any part of that.”

The REDCON1 founder also explains that America is great because people should be able to choose whether they want to wear a mask or get the COVID-19 vaccine, going on to question Schwarzenegger’s decision to call people “schmucks” for disagreeing with him.

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in Skydance Productions and Paramount Pictures’ “TERMINATOR: DARK FATE.”

Adding that America is great because (in theory) it allows for people to choose whether they want to wear a mask or get the COVID-19 vaccine, Singerman further asserted that he doesn’t want anybody cancelling Arnold, since he’s not for cancelling anybody.

“I’m not for cancelling anybody,” said Singerman. “Don’t cancel Arnold, but don’t support him…if you’re me. If you like it, go there. I won’t be there, unfortunately. So if you’re looking to see Kai Greene and the rest of the REDCON1 athletes, or myself, unfortunately you won’t.”

Source: REDCON1, YouTube

According to Singerman, he has been attending the Arnold Classic event for the past 15 years, even sponsoring the bodybuilding competition for the past 10 years, because he looked up to Schwarzenegger and considered the actor to be a personal role model.

In a related Instagram post, Singerman described Arnold as “A guy who had nothing and no advantages, who never made an excuse, and created a tremendous success,” adding, “He became an icon based on his work ethic, his charisma, and his grit.”

“Anyone who says “screw your freedoms” is un-American, and REDCON1 is a patriotic pro-freedom brand,” Singerman declared. “We support freedom of choice. We don’t want Arnold censored or cancelled. We just can’t support his opinion with our dollars.”

Source: Aaron Singerman, Instagram

As evidenced, the fitness entrepreneur takes his patriotism very seriously, meaning that his calling Schwarzenegger un-American is serious proof of how disappointed he is in his bodybuilding role model.

Just recently, for instance, following the controversial withdrawal of troops by the Joe Biden administration, Singerman shared a post on Instagram in which he thanked the veterans who served in Afghanistan for their service.

“Dear veterans who served in Afghanistan,” Singerman wrote. “You kept terrorism at bay for 20 years. You served with bravery and honor. You were there for those serving along side you. What you did MATTERS to us. Sincerely, the American people.”

Source: Aaron Singerman, Instagram

As if any further proof of his patrotism was needed, in 2020, Singerman started the REDCON1 foundation, which focuses on providing “financial support to United States military families that have experienced a hardship,” and is seeking to extend their outreach to multiple families as they grow. 

“We make sports supplements, protein powders, protein bars, pre-workout, and stuff like that, but from the very beginning we wanted to be a purpose-driven,” said Singerman in an interview with Newsmax. “REDCON1 stands for the highest state of military preparedness, so we’re a very patriotic, military-focused brand from the get-go.”

Source: Newsmax, YouTube

As for Schwarzenegger, following the controversy sparked by his comments, the actor admitted that, even though he still stands by what he said, he may have gone a bit too far by calling people “schmucks.”

“I’ll admit, calling people schmucks and saying ‘Screw your freedom’ was a little much, even if I stand by the sentiment,” said the former Governor of California in a recent editorial he wrote for The Atlantic. “But there is nothing that I’m more passionate about than keeping America great, and it’s the only subject that can make me lose my temper.”

Source: GQ, YouTube

What do you make of Singerman’s decision to stop supporting Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding events? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below or on social media!

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