Berry De Mey debates Vlad Yudin in deep analysis of his previous critical comments of modern bodybuilding physiques.
Berry De Mey found himself in some hot water when he made a post on Instagram criticizing modern bodybuilding physiques. His comments came immediately after the Arnold Classic and Nick Walker’s massive win. In the aftermath, a controversial barrage of comments flooded De Mey’s post. Some defending and many criticizing his take on modern bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Berry De Mey deeply explains and clarifies his comments criticizing bodybuilding physiques of today.
There’s nothing new about the old guard of bodybuilders criticizing the modern physiques of bodybuilding athletes currently competing. We’ve seen the likes of Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and more throw shade at the current state of bodybuilding. Now we can add former bodybuilder and now coach Berry De Mey into this category.
Berry De Mey took to Instagram swiftly after Nick Walker’s big Arnold Classic win. Though not directly pointed at Walker – De Mey had some critical words about the current state of the sport.
We had the opportunity to connect with Berry De Mey and discuss at length his comments about modern bodybuilding. More than can be explained in a simple Instagram post or in comments – the discussion and debate between Vlad Yudin and Berry De Mey goes into the deep details of De Mey’s criticism. De Mey has a particular criteria for what he thinks bodybuilding should look like – he doesn’t think the judges today are on that same page.
Berry De Mey admits that he is likely biased beyond his control. He believes if he was born into this era – he would see no problem with today’s physiques and push himself to the massive size we are seeing on the stage today. It’s the exact thing he did during his prime competing. The only difference is that the limit was far lower than it is today. That’s what worries him.
He understands that no single person or entity is to blame. But he thinks each passing generation of bodybuilders is pushing the limit of the human body further. With each new limit being crossed – the new normal becomes more dangerous and also less pleasing (to Berry De Mey’s eyes). His main criticism is that each passing decade focuses more on size and conditioning over lines and aesthetic. De Mey thinks aesthetic should be valued equally to size.
But Barry De Mey is at a loss on how to properly fix it – or even on how to fully express himself. He feels trapped in the same bias that all individuals in bodybuilding are. It’s impossible to escape the bias of your generation. When he tries to take a step back to the bigger macro picture – he becomes worried. If we are all unavoidably a victim of our own upbringing and bias – how can we fix the dangerous size that bodybuilders are pushing towards?
Ultimately, he traces the problems he sees with modern bodybuilding all the way back to the Golden Era. He finds the totality of bodybuilding to be too extreme.
“The reason that I’m saying this all is not about that I don’t like the aesthetic that much anymore. You know, it’s not about that result,” Berry De Mey states in our interview. He continues:
“I’m at the point willing to say not today, back in the day, same for me, that bodybuilding in total is becoming insane. Because what guys have to do today, what I would have done if I was an 18 year old kid today, so it’s not a finger to point, but bodybuilding in total has become insane.”
It’s interesting that Berry De Mey includes himself in this category. He admits that he would fall victim to the same trap if he was young and competing today. He goes on to say that he can’t blame one specific group, person, or entity. He doesn’t know who to blame. But he’s concerned – and he’s seeing more young bodybuilders dying or going to the hospital. He doesn’t know what it will take – but he hopes that something changes the sport of bodybuilding.
Do you agree with Berry De Mey? Watch his full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above and decide for yourself!