Alright, let’s dive into a hot topic in the fitness world: “fake natty” influencers. You’ve probably heard the term if you’ve spent any time on fitness forums or watched videos exposing unrealistic physiques. A “fake natty” is someone who claims to be natural—meaning they say they’ve achieved their physique without steroids or performance-enhancing drugs—yet displays a body that’s, well, almost too good to be true. These physiques spark debates, skepticism, and sometimes even frustration among fitness fans who might be grinding hard for way more realistic results.
Now, before I get into names, let me clarify: I’m not here to attack anyone. At the end of the day, people can do whatever they want with their bodies. But it becomes an issue when followers, especially younger ones, look up to these influencers and believe they can achieve similar results by just grinding hard in the gym and eating clean. The truth is, most of these physiques involve “extra help,” and failing to acknowledge that sets up unrealistic expectations for everyone else.
Let’s talk about some of the most well-known names in the fitness world who’ve come under the spotlight as suspected “fake natties.”
1. Liver King (Brian Johnson)
CAUGHT / EXPOSED
Liver King exploded onto the scene with his intense “ancestral lifestyle” approach, which includes consuming raw liver and claiming it’ll help you live more like our primal ancestors. He denied using steroids for the longest time, even as his massive, shredded physique raised eyebrows. But eventually, he came clean, admitting he used performance enhancers. It’s a prime example of how an influencer can influence tons of people with false expectations, even when the reality is far from natural.
2. Mike O’Hearn
Mike O’Hearn is practically a legend in the fitness industry, and he’s also been vocal about his commitment to staying natural. This claim has caused a lot of debate, especially given his muscle size, leanness, and overall look, particularly as he ages. For many people, the way he holds onto muscle and stays lean seems almost superhuman, leading to ongoing skepticism in the community. With that said, we can all learn a lot from Mike, he’s a legend, and he knows how to train. If you follow him on YouTube you will get loads of valuable training info, natty or not!
3. Jeff Seid
Jeff Seid is another fitness personality who’s famous for his shredded, year-round look. A lot of folks in the fitness world have their doubts, arguing that the combination of muscle size and leanness he maintains is suspicious. He’s a big name on social media, and his look is what a lot of people want. But it’s hard to ignore the common critique: to stay that lean and that muscular year-round without assistance is a tough ask.
4. Rob Riches
Is Rob’s physique possible for a natty? Probably, depending on genetics. However, Rob made this list due to all the other fake natty lists mentioning him. Many people think he’s a fake natty. What do you think? Not that it matters. If he is natty, then hopefully he considers this a compliment.
5. Simeon Panda
Simeon Panda is another influencer who’s built a huge following while claiming to be natural. He’s got a physique that many believe is beyond what can be achieved naturally. His size, muscle maturity, and conditioning spark constant debate. Some people say he’s proof that great genetics, hard work, and discipline are enough. Others say it’s unrealistic, pointing out that his look is just too polished to be all-natural.
6. Bradley Martyn
Bradley Martyn is well-known on YouTube and social media, and his size has always fueled a lot of speculation. He’s addressed the rumors multiple times, but he’s never outright confirmed anything. He’s muscular, lean, and has insane lifting power. While he leaves some things up to interpretation, the rumors keep the “fake natty” conversation alive.
7. David Laid
David Laid is famous for his transformation videos, showing how he bulked up from a slim teenager to a built adult. His rapid transformation has raised eyebrows, but he keeps quiet on the “natty or not” front.
8. Connor Murphy
Connor’s known for his ripped physique, often leaning out to levels that most natural athletes find unsustainable year-round. His low body fat and lean muscle retention keep people questioning.
9. Chris Heria
As a top calisthenics athlete, Heria’s shredded look sparks debate, mainly because his conditioning seems like it’d require more than just bodyweight exercises. There’s a big argument about whether his level of muscularity is achievable naturally with his training style.
10. Sergi Constance
This guy’s been around for a while, and his massive physique has always attracted “natty or not” discussions. He has the consistency and mass of a bodybuilder, which keeps people guessing.
11. Sam Sulek
A newer face, Sam’s impressive gains and “egolifting” style have built him a following, but his rapid muscle growth raises questions, especially given how hard it is to achieve his look at a young age naturally. To his credit, Sam has never claimed to be natty, and Sam’s work ethic is truly inspiring. He’s still a great guy to watch and his promotion of cardio is something I greatly respect. He’s on this list because he’s clearly not natty, and it would be bad to think you can train hard and look like him without gear.
12. Alon Gabbay
Alon is a German bodybuilder and fitness influencer. Apparently, years before he was on YouTube, he was a member of a bodybuilding forum and asked about cycle advice. OG members of this particular forum had screenshots of the now deleted posts. This is based on a reddit post by someone who claims to have seen it, who knows how true it is. His physique is impressive so he’s possibly not natty or ran a cycle at one point in time.
The Hall of Shame (Natural Bodybuilders Who Got Caught)
We have listed influencers above, but what about natural bodybuilders? The guys who actually compete “naturally” and claim natty? There is a website that covers them in great detail, and they have an entire section called the Hall of Shame, which shows you the bodybuilder, their name, and what they got busted for. It’s crazy how much info they have on these bodybuilders!
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