Greg Plitt - Joe Donnelly Controversy?

[Joe Pietaro]

Facebook is blowing up with Joe Donnelly, "Mr. Intensity" himself, getting raked over the coals for using Greg Plitt's death to get publicity for himself.

Donnelly (who is a highly-regarded by Brand X for being their supplement company's spokesman and his name is said ad naseum at Brand X HQ) was on Inside Edition speaking about it:

http://www.insideedition.com/videos/...shocking-death

According to a bunch of posts on Facebook, Donnelly also posted that he and Plitt were very close friends and when called out on it as bullshit, he deleted the posts and blocked the people who replied on his page(s).

From my personal experience, Donnelly did tell me when we were doing a photo shoot last summer that he and Plitt were friends. I have no idea if it is true or not, nor do I give a shit. But this thing is getting a lot of traction, with fellow fitness model Diego Sebastian taking the lead:

Diego Sebastian

Low class move to use Greg Plitts death as a media campaign and make multiple social media post to promote yourself because he is trending. Lying that you were close friends with him... ‪#‎conartist‬ ‪#‎sleezy‬‪#‎gregwouldknockyouthefuckout‬

Here's a link to a bunch of comments on this, with one fitness photographer (Noel Daganta) even accusing Donnelly of assaulting women. I have no clue if it's true or not, but silence - especially in the form of deleting your own posts and blocking people from tagging you - makes one wonder.

https://www.facebook.com/natalieminh...ntions_comment

1897657_831402620239402_6170012719389789748_n.jpg

[Musclepapa John]

Interesting controversy. So Joe got an Inside Edition interview out of it. That's some savvy marketing lol.

[Joe Pietaro]

Interesting controversy. So Joe got an Inside Edition interview out of it. That's some savvy marketing lol.

Maybe he was good friends with Plitt and for all we know, Inside Edition could have contacted Donnelly for a comment. But it just looks odd that all of these industry people are bashing the fuck out of him & he deletes his posts, blocks them and goes dark on it?

If I was honoring a buddy of mine who died tragically like this and people called me out on our relationship being fabricated for my own benefit, I would surely have to retort.

There are a bunch of people saying some nasty shit about Donnelly and I know from personal experience that whenever that happens, he (*GAG ORDER EDIT*)

[Musclepapa John]

I've never been a big fan of putting one guy on the cover of a mag over, and over, and over again. It was that way for decades with bodybuilding and now with physique. Thing is with physique there are TONS of available guys. Donnelly has that "I get lots of covers" in common with Plitt and I think its mostly about those guys having what they call "hustle" and the editors/publishers idiocyncracies.

[Professor X]

I've never been a big fan of putting one guy on the cover of a mag over, and over, and over again. It was that way for decades with bodybuilding and now with physique. Thing is with physique there are TONS of available guys. Donnelly has that "I get lots of covers" in common with Plitt and I think its mostly about those guys having what they call "hustle" and the editors/publishers idiocyncracies.

It is more likely it is about pushing anyone who has any type of possible fan base....just like they did when Arnold was everywhere.

I wouldn't call having a few thousand facebook friends hustle.

[Musclepapa John]

It is more likely it is about pushing anyone who has any type of possible fan base....just like they did when Arnold was everywhere.

I wouldn't call having a few thousand facebook friends hustle.

So you think they are that much better than the rest?

[Professor X]

So you think they are that much better than the rest?

No, just seen more.
Today you can be famous whether you beat the other contestants or not.


Look at Sanjaya...

[Professor X]

Aaahhh....celebrity

[Joe Pietaro]

I've never been a big fan of putting one guy on the cover of a mag over, and over, and over again. It was that way for decades with bodybuilding and now with physique. Thing is with physique there are TONS of available guys. Donnelly has that "I get lots of covers" in common with Plitt and I think its mostly about those guys having what they call "hustle" and the editors/publishers idiocyncracies.

To put the same guy on your publication's cover over & over is a reach, IMO. yeah, I know...Brand X says that he sold boatloads of magazines the last 10 times that he was on the cover, so why not keep striking while the iron is hot?

A freaky bodybuilder on a cover is different from the male fitness model types. The mass monsters have certain characteristics that set them apart from the crowd, but like MPJ said, there are tons of fitness/physique guys and they basically all look the same. Six-pack, good hair, white teeth...you get the idea.

And if a publisher uses their Facebook following (you know, the one with Mexico or Thailand being the location with the most 'Likes') as the barometer of how frequently to put a guy on the cover, then I promise not to cum in their collective mouths.

[Curt James]

It is more likely it is about pushing anyone who has any type of possible fan base....just like they did when Arnold was everywhere.

I wouldn't call having a few thousand facebook friends hustle.

Arnold is still everywhere.

Schwarzenegger's covers per Tim Fogarty's MuscleMemory.com

1967 March Vol 96, Num 6 Health and Strength
1967 March Vol 96, Num 5 Health and Strength
1967 August Vol 4, Num 8 Muscular Development
1967 October Vol 96, Num 22 Health and Strength
1967 November Vol 96, Num 23 Health and Strength
1968 July Vol 9, Num 11 Muscle Builder
1968 October Vol 97, Num 18 Health and Strength
1969 May Vol 28, Num 4 IronMan
1969 May Vol 10, Num 7 Muscle Builder
1969 May Strength and Health
1969 July Vol 10, Num 9 Muscle Builder
1969 September Vol 11, Num 2 Mr America
1969 September Vol 10, Num 11 Muscle Builder
1970 January Vol 99, Num 1 Health and Strength
1970 January Vol 11, Num 4 Mr America
1970 January Vol 11, Num 1 Muscle Builder
1970 January Vol 1, Num 8 Peak Muscle Maker
1970 February Vol 99, Num 2 Health and Strength
1970 March Vol 29, Num 3 IronMan
1970 July Vol 2, Num 2 Peak Muscle Maker
1970 August Vol 11, Num 6 Muscle Builder
1970 November Vol 99, Num 11 Health and Strength
1970 November Vol 2, Num 6 Peak Muscle Maker
1970 December Vol 99, Num 12 Health and Strength
1970 December Vol 12, Num 7 Mr America
1971 January Vol 30, Num 2 IronMan
1971 March Vol 100, Num 3 Health and Strength
1971 March Vol 12, Num 9 Mr America
1971 May Vol 12, Num 10 Muscle Builder
1971 June Vol 3, Num 1 Peak Muscle Maker
1971 September Vol 12, Num 12 Mr America
1972 February Vol 13, Num 2 Muscle Builder
1972 July Vol 13, Num 5 Mr America
1973 August Vol 14, Num 3 Muscle Builder
1973 October Vol 14, Num 4 Muscle Builder
1973 November Vol 10, Num 11 Muscular Development
1974 February Vol 103, Num 2 Health and Strength
1975 January Vol 15, Num 5 Muscle Builder
1975 July Vol 34, Num 5 IronMan
1975 November Vol 16, Num 7 Muscle Builder
1976 Muscle Mag Annual
1976 July Vol 17, Num 5 Muscle Builder
1977 Muscle Mag Annual
1977 May Vol 18, Num 5 Muscle Builder
1978 Muscle Mag Annual
1978 June Vol 19, Num 1 Muscle Builder
1979 Muscle Mag Annual
1979 February Vol 16, Num 1 Muscular Development
1979 June Vol 40, Num 6 Muscle Builder
1979 September Num 15 Muscle Mag International
1981 Muscle Mag Annual
1981 January Num 89 Muscle Training Illustrated
1981 July Num 93 Muscle Training Illustrated
1981 October Vol 42, Num 10 Muscle and Fitness
1982 January Vol 42, Num 12 Muscle and Fitness
1982 April Num 98 Muscle Training Illustrated
1982 July Vol 43, Num 7 Muscle and Fitness
1982 August Health and Strength
1982 August Vol 19, Num 4 Muscular Development
1983 February Vol 44, Num 2 Muscle and Fitness
1984 August Num 116 Muscle Training Illustrated
1984 August Vol 45, Num 8 Muscle and Fitness
1984 October Vol 21, Num 5 Muscular Development
1984 December Vol 2, Num 9 Flex
1984 December Vol 45, Num 12 Muscle and Fitness
1985 November Vol 46, Num 11 Muscle and Fitness
1986 January Num 126 Muscle Training Illustrated
1987 July Vol 48, Num 7 Muscle and Fitness
1987 August Num 67 Muscle Mag International
1988 July Vol 47, Num 7 IronMan
1988 August Num 76 Muscle Mag International
1988 August Vol 49, Num 8 Muscle and Fitness
1988 September Num 145 Muscle Training Illustrated
1989 June Vol 7, Num 4 Flex
1989 December Vol 48, Num 12 IronMan
1990 January Vol 7, Num 11 Flex
1990 July Vol 51, Num 7 Muscle and Fitness
1990 August Vol 8, Num 6 Flex
1990 September Vol 2, Num 6 Natural Body and Fitness
1991 January Vol 8, Num 11 Flex
1991 August Vol 50, Num 8 IronMan
1991 August Vol 52, Num 8 Muscle and Fitness
1991 September Num 111 Muscle Mag International
1991 October Vol 9, Num 8 Flex
1991 October Num 168 Muscle Training Illustrated
1992 June Vol 10, Num 4 Flex
1992 August Vol 29, Num 8 Muscular Development
1992 September Vol 53, Num 9 Muscle and Fitness
1992 October Num 124 Muscle Mag International
1993 January Vol 10, Num 11 Flex
1993 April Vol 52, Num 4 IronMan
1993 July Vol 54, Num 7 Muscle and Fitness
1993 July Vol 30, Num 7 Muscular Development
1993 July Vol 7, Num 3 NPC News
1993 August Num 134 Muscle Mag International
1994 May Vol 53, Num 5 IronMan
1994 September Vol 55, Num 9 Muscle and Fitness
1995 June Vol 13, Num 5 Flex
1995 November Vol 13, Num 10 Flex
1996 February Num 48 Muscle Media 2000
1997 Muscle Mag International
1997 July Vol 58, Num 7 Muscle and Fitness
1997 August Vol 15, Num 6 Flex
2000 January Vol 61, Num 1 Muscle and Fitness
2001 January Vol 62, Num 1 Muscle and Fitness
2001 February Num 224 Muscle Mag International
2001 April Vol 19, Num 2 Flex
2001 November Vol 62, Num 11 Muscle and Fitness
2002 March Vol 5, Num 1 Planet Muscle
2003 February Vol 20, Num 12 Flex
2003 August Vol 64, Num 8 Muscle and Fitness
2003 September Vol 21, Num 7 Flex
2004 January Vol 63, Num 1 IronMan
2004 September Vol 22, Num 7 Flex
2004 November Vol 63, Num 11 IronMan
2005 January Vol 66, Num 1 Muscle and Fitness
2005 February Vol 64, Num 2 IronMan
2005 May Vol 23, Num 3 Flex
2005 May Vol 64, Num 5 IronMan
2006 February Vol 67, Num 2 Muscle and Fitness
2006 April Num 286 Muscle Mag International
2006 August Vol 65, Num 8 IronMan
2006 December Vol 1, Num 4 Reps
2007 February Vol 24, Num 12 Flex
2007 March Num 298 Muscle Mag International
2007 July Vol 68, Num 7 Muscle and Fitness
2007 August Vol 66, Num 8 IronMan
2008 March Vol 3, Num 1 Reps
2008 May Vol 26, Num 3 Flex
2008 July Num 314 Muscle Mag International
2008 August Vol 67, Num 8 IronMan
2009 March Vol 46, Num 3 Muscular Development
2009 May Vol 70, Num 5 Muscle and Fitness
2009 August Vol 68, Num 8 IronMan
2010 February Vol 27, Num 12 Flex
2010 August Vol 69, Num 8 IronMan
2010 November Vol 71, Num 11 Muscle and Fitness
2011 January Num 344 Muscle Mag International
2011 March Vol 29, Num 1 Flex
2011 March Vol 48, Num 3 Muscular Development
2011 April Vol 48, Num 4 Muscular Development
2011 July Vol 14, Num 6 Planet Muscle
2011 August Vol 70, Num 8 IronMan
2011 November Vol 72, Num 11 Muscle and Fitness
2012 March Vol 30, Num 1 Flex
2012 March Vol 49, Num 3 Muscular Development
2012 August Vol 71, Num 8 IronMan

I'm pretty sure he's had additional covers since 2012. And someone on Facebook asked about the current issue of MD where there's supposed to be an interview with Arnold.

[Musclepapa John]

I think guys like Sadik & Jason Poston could sell mags as well as Joe Donnelly & even Greg Plitt. Curious which mag will get out the first Plitt cover to "memorialize" him, not that anyone would try to capitalize on his passing.

[Joe Pietaro]

I think guys like Sadik & Jason Poston could sell mags as well as Joe Donnelly & even Greg Plitt. Curious which mag will get out the first Plitt cover to "memorialize" him, not that anyone would try to capitalize on his passing.

I'm sure that Brand X has already mocked up the cover of that one. LOL

And we are thinking along the same lines (again!) with your analogy of the non-bodybuidlers being of the same ilk as far as putting a cut up guy on the cover.

I know and like both Sadik & Jason and think that they have better physiques than Donnelly & Plitt. They compete, so it is a different situation.

But I'll go to my grave believing that a celebrity with a body not as good as a fitness model's is by far a better choice for a cover. The trickle down effect & publicity garnered from it has no comparison.

[Musclepapa John]

But I'll go to my grave believing that a celebrity with a body not as good as a fitness model's is by far a better choice for a cover. The trickle down effect & publicity garnered from it has no comparison.

Well that is the Muscle & Fitness approach and they beat out everybody by the numbers apparently.

[Joe Pietaro]

Well that is the Muscle & Fitness approach and they beat out everybody by the numbers apparently.

That would seem to be enough proof for me, but...hey, what do I know?

I wasn't crazy about the way that M&F was presenting their covers for a while, actually. They had a CGI look to them (the Superman one, for example) and pulled out some oldies like Bruce Lee. But they have been on a nice roll of late and I love the Triple H - Stephanie McMahon one.

[Curt James]

I'm sure that Brand X has already mocked up the cover of that one. (snip)

Was just at the grocery store where they have a newsstand section. Plitt is on the cover of the current issue of Fitness Rx.

The first two minutes of the following video are really disheartening.



Plitt talks about the future...

"later in life ... windows close and the opportunities cease to exist"