Arnold Schwarzenegger Loses Sponsor For “Screw Your Freedom” Comment

Typically, sports supplement company REDCON1 sponsors Arnold Sports Festival, also known as the Arnold Classic, an annual body building competition. However, its namesake, Arnold Schwarzenegger, made the comment “screw your freedom,” that has led to REDCON1 discontinuing its support.

During prime time on August 10, Schwarzenegger participated in a discussion with CNN Senior Global Affairs analyst Bianna Golodryga and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. The event was related to Vindman’s book, Here Right Matters.

Discussing the new coronavirus variant

During the talk, conversation turned to the advent of the Delta variant of COVID-19. Schwarzenegger discussed his own efforts to keep the public accurately informed on the virus’s trajectory and the efficacy of the vaccines, of which Pfizer-BioNTech formally received FDA approval for their vaccine.

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Schwarzenegger emphasized the need for accurate information to assure members of the public hesitant about the vaccine and continuing to mask. He stated, “There’s still people who live in denial, and still people who don’t believe in masks.” He deferred to Dr. Anthony Fauci for informed insights into the pandemic.

Schwarzenegger says “screw your freedom”

“There is a virus here,” Schwarzenegger further stressed. “It kills people and the only way we prevent it is: get vaccinated, wear masks, do social distancing, washing your hands all the time, and not just to think about, ‘Well my freedom is being kind of disturbed here.’ No, screw your freedom. Because with freedom comes obligations and responsibilities. …You have the freedom to wear no mask, but you know something? You’re a schmuck for not wearing a mask.”

The interview went viral and caught the attention of Arnold Sports Festival sponsor REDCON1. Aaron Singerman, the company’s founder, took to Instagram to announce the withdrawal of their sponsorship. “Me personally and everyone at REDCON1 has always loved Arnold. Over the years, I’ve overlooked a lot of stuff…because we love him so much,” he began. However, “When somebody says ‘Screw your freedom,’ I can’t and REDCON1 can’t in good conscience continue to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars sponsoring that person or show.”

A REDCON1 spokesperson emphasized the decision was not because Schwarzenegger proclaimed himself pro-mask, but purely from the comment “screw your freedom.” They stressed, “To be clear we did not pull out of the event because of a mask issue. We understand the importance of public safety as well as the responsibilities all event organizers. These are unprecedented times and we’re aligned with public safety for all. We elected to discontinue support due to Arnold’s comment, ‘Screw Your Freedoms.'” In spite of this, the Arnold Sports Festival is still set to take place on September 25 in Columbus, Ohio.