I think the bodybuilding has lost popularity because there’s just no passion or humanity it it anymore, it’s been forgotten that at their core bodybuilders are showmen, the physique is the show but so is the character behind it, there’s a reason people like lenny or jason or rich piana are about as popular as mr olympias nowadays and definitely more popular than a lot of ifbb pros (at least back in 2017 or so), they have bad physiques but are extremely entertaining as a bodybuilder should. I think after dorian yates, great as he was, it became acceptable for bodybuilders to walk around as some sort of badass when everyone knows a bodybuilder (I’m talking top level over 270lbs) functionally is a joke, can’t fight, can’t run, will tear muscles if you look at them wrong, only yates could pull that off as he was miles ahead of everyone else, but when you’re “generic muscle man #265” it’s just boring, it’s a bore even to gym rats, it’s absolutely crushing to an average person.
It’s who can take the most drugs without dying. Doesn’t even require intensity anymore. I mean a real pro athlete actually does harder workouts than pro bodybuilders then they go and compete in an actual athletic endeavor. Pro bodybuilders go to the gym, eat like My 600lb Life, then take a nap like a baby. There’s no real substance there. It’s not athletic and you just end up looking like an insecure freak. Take 20+ years off your life just so other men can awe at your physique. Meanwhile the 150lb cookie cutter soccer player is dicking down a new girl every night while your doodle doesn’t even work anymore. People have become aware of the “lifestyle” or lack there of, so there’s no mystique or appeal to it anymore. Back in Arnold’s day you didn’t see a freak everh time you logged on social media and you didn’t know he had to take massive amounts of shit just to look like that, you just thought “wow he works out really hard”. Then guys like Phil Heath come around and get crowned best bodybuilder in the world 7 times doing lightweight machine workouts with reps to infinity. Not to mention most are midgets, so girls are automatically tuned out by default unfortunately.