Goob Uncovers Mike Sommerfeld’s Alleged Photo Editing: Breaking Down The Controversy
In the latest installment of The Goob Show, host John Dorsey, widely recognized as Goob, tackles some of the most talked-about issues in the bodybuilding world. Joined by filmmaker Vlad Yudin and producer Edwin Mejia Jr., the trio dissects a range of hot topics, from legal battles involving fitness icons to integrity concerns in professional bodybuilding. The focal point of this episode? Mike Sommerfeld’s alleged use of photo editing – is he manipulating images to enhance his physique?
Key Highlights from This Episode:
Chul Soon’s Legal Trouble: The arrest and sentencing of South Korean bodybuilding sensation Hwang Chul Soon for domestic violence.
Mike Sommerfeld’s Photoshop Allegations: A deep dive into claims that the 2024 Mr. Olympia Classic Physique runner-up is editing his social media photos.
Merchandising Ethics: Accusations that Sommerfeld failed to compensate a digital artist for a custom t-shirt design.
SixPax Competition Controversy: A bodybuilding event that rescinded prize money from a lesser-known winner, awarding it to a competitor with greater social media influence.
2025 Arnold Classic Predictions: Goob’s take on Derek Lunsford’s redemption arc and Samson Dauda’s potential title defense.
Chul Soon’s Arrest for Domestic Violence
The episode kicks off with a discussion surrounding Hwang Chul Soon, often dubbed the “Asian Arnold Schwarzenegger.” The South Korean fitness icon was recently sentenced to nine months in prison for assaulting a female acquaintance, following years of rumors regarding alleged domestic abuse against his wife.
Goob recalls previously shedding light on these accusations in a video over a year ago, which failed to gain international traction at the time. He suggests that Chul Soon and his team actively suppressed the narrative to protect his public image.
Filmmakers Vlad Yudin and Edwin Mejia Jr. reveal they had been working on a documentary about Chul Soon since 2022, only to have their project derailed by these recent developments. They describe the bodybuilder as a consummate showman, always portraying a polished, charismatic persona, which made uncovering the reality of his personal life particularly challenging.
Goob bluntly states that Chul Soon’s true character is reflected in his actions behind closed doors. Drawing comparisons to other public figures who have faced domestic violence accusations—such as UFC president Dana White—Goob criticizes the normalization of such behavior within the industry.
He also shares a personal anecdote regarding false abuse allegations, emphasizing the complexities of reporting such cases and the moral responsibility of influencers in shaping public perception.
Mike Sommerfeld’s Photoshop Allegations: Deception or Just Marketing?
Shifting gears, the conversation moves to Mike Sommerfeld, who recently secured second place in Classic Physique at the 2024 Mr. Olympia. Goob revisits his prior claims, where he accused Sommerfeld of editing his social media photos to enhance his muscle definition and proportions.
The controversy sparks debate over why a top-tier competitor would resort to such tactics when his on-stage conditioning and aesthetics have already earned him an elite ranking. Goob highlights a disturbing trend in Classic Physique and Figure divisions, where athletes frequently manipulate images, contrasting this with Men’s Open competitors, who rarely engage in such practices.
Edwin Mejia Jr. speculates that social media engagement and sponsorship opportunities could be driving factors. In today’s fitness industry, an athlete’s online presence is often as crucial as their competition placements, directly influencing their marketability and earning potential.
Merchandise Dispute: Did Sommerfeld Exploit a Digital Artist?
The Sommerfeld controversy doesn’t end with Photoshop allegations. Goob also exposes a merchandising dispute involving the Classic Physique star. According to Goob, Sommerfeld commissioned a custom t-shirt design from a digital artist but later refused to pay the agreed-upon price. Initially claiming he wouldn’t use the design, Sommerfeld allegedly went ahead and produced the shirts without crediting or compensating the artist.
This unethical practice drew backlash from the fitness and creative communities, reinforcing the importance of intellectual property rights and fair compensation in the fitness industry.
SixPax Competition Controversy: Prioritizing Fame Over Fairness?
The hosts next tackle a shocking judging scandal at a local bodybuilding event hosted by SixPax Gym. Despite being a non-NPC/IFBB-affiliated competition, it offered a substantial $3,000 grand prize—with bodybuilding legend Tom Platz among the judges.
Initially, the first-place title and prize money were awarded to an athlete with a small social media following. However, in a bizarre turn of events, SixPax Gym later revoked the title and prize, citing a supposed “judging error.” The winnings were then reallocated to a third-place finisher—an athlete with significantly more social media presence.
Goob calls out the blatant favoritism, suggesting that marketability, rather than merit, dictated the final placements. A leaked video of Tom Platz admitting to post-show deliberations further fueled the controversy, as the decision to alter the results appeared more about boosting publicity for the gym than ensuring fair competition.
In a silver lining, First Phorm, a major supplement company, reached out to Goob after hearing about the injustice. The brand stepped in to sponsor the original winner, providing financial compensation equivalent to the lost prize money, turning the controversy into a victory for fairness and integrity in bodybuilding.
2025 Arnold Classic: Goob’s Most Anticipated Matchups
The episode wraps up with a discussion on the 2025 Arnold Classic, one of the most prestigious bodybuilding competitions of the year. Goob shares his insights on the top contenders to watch, with a particular focus on former Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford and reigning champion Samson Dauda.
Goob predicts that Lunsford will return stronger than ever, determined to redeem himself after losing his Olympia title. He believes Lunsford’s muscle maturity, symmetry, and posing refinements will give him the edge over Dauda.
On the other hand, if Samson Dauda suffers a loss, it could significantly impact his standing in the sport. Vlad Yudin points out that defending an Olympia title is a double-edged sword—while victory solidifies a champion’s legacy, a loss could undermine their credibility moving forward.
With the high stakes and substantial prize money at the Arnold Classic, Goob anticipates a fierce battle for dominance on the bodybuilding stage.
Final Thoughts: A Deep Dive into Bodybuilding’s Biggest Controversies
This episode of The Goob Show delivers another hard-hitting exposé, tackling topics ranging from photo manipulation and ethical business practices to corruption in competitive bodybuilding.
As always, Goob remains committed to transparency, integrity, and truth in the fitness world, ensuring that the bodybuilding community stays informed about the hidden realities behind the sport’s biggest names.
Stay tuned for more breakdowns, and don’t miss the full episode of The Goob Show above!
