• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Generation Iron

Generation Iron Fitness & Strength Sports Network

  • Movies
  • Original Content
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Pre-Workout
      • Fat Burners
      • Testosterone Boosters
      • Creatine
      • Protein
      • BCAAs
      • Multivitamins
      • Omega-3
      • Joint Supplements
      • Super Greens
      • Meal Replacement
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Foam Rollers
      • Best Massage Guns
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
  • Equipment
    • Cardio
      • Treadmills
      • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Stair Climbers
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Best Apparel
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Weightlifting Shoes
    • Strength
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Weightlifting Belts
      • Best Home Gym Equipment
      • Complete Home Gyms
    • Training
      • Best Knee Sleeves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Wraps
      • Best Weightlifting Gloves
  • More
    • About Us
      • Our Team
      • Our Experts
    • Advertise
    • Franchise With Us
    • Exercise Guides
    • Athlete Profiles
    • Podcasts
    • Power 30
    • Bodybuilding Awards
    • Supplement Awards
  • Shop
Bodybuilding

Let’s Play Natty Or Not With Bodybuilders & Celebrity Physiques

by Jacob Ladon Published on Jan 24, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

Victor and the GI team break down the natural status of The Rock, Zack Efron, Jeff Seid, Simeon Panda, and more.

The natty or not debate has been discussed for as long as bodybuilding culture hit the mainstream. But with the recent revelations of Liver King’s steroid scandal, many bodybuilder and celebrity names have resurfaced questioning their natural status. That’s why for this week’s Generation Iron Podcast episode we decided to play a fun game guessing if a physique is natural or enhanced with steroids. Victor Martinez and the GI crew look over a list of names alongside physique photos for both celebrities and pro bodybuilders. Who is natty and who’s not? Let’s try to find out!

Before jumping into a breakdown of some of the natty or not highlights – we want to make it clear that these statements are all speculation. Unless a specific person undergoes rigorous and consistent drug tests, it’s impossible to truly prove who is using steroids. Victor Martinez is a pro bodybuilder who has used steroids throughout his career – and has known many pro bodybuilders who also use it. With that in mind, he uses his past experiences and gut instincts to evaluate the photos and give his best guess.

The comments made in this video are not accusations or value judgements on the individuals mentioned. Instead, it’s an entertaining way to explore the complicated reality of steroid use in not just bodybuilding but all pro sports and even in cultures beyond athleticism. Let’s jump into it.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Zac Efron (@zacefron)

Natty or Not Celebrities: The Rock, Zack Efron, and Hugh Jackman

The 1980s was a massive time for bodybuilding physiques in action cinema. This was largely due to the rise of Arnold Schwarzenegger alongside many other action stars who became known for their incredible mass monster physiques. Today, we don’t have that same level of mass monster size – but the super hero era of action films has produced many new stars with sculpted physiques.

Most notable as of late are Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Zac Efron, and Hugh Jackman. All three have been in the news recently for their powerful physiques. The Rock recently starred in Black Adam, Hugh Jackman is returning to his role as Wolverine, and Efron has significantly bulked up his physique for an upcoming wrestling movie role.

In all three cases, the actors have denied use of steroids in the past. Hugh Jackman most recently claimed that his physique was accomplished “the old fashioned way” – and that he would not risk his health even for his deep passion of acting. But do the physiques tell a different story?

Victor Martinez believes in all three cases, these actors must have used steroids at some point. The harsh deadlines and significant altered transformations these actors go through for a role are near impossible to accomplish naturally. Zack Efron, in particular, has gotten so massive so fast that it seems unlikely he wasn’t aided with PEDs.

The GI team all agree – and while there is no proving it – there is no obvious signs or evidence that would indicate a clear signal natural means accomplished these super-hero physiques.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jeff Seid (@jeff_seid)

Are the most popular natural athletes actually using steroids?

Beyond the celebrity mentions, Victor Martinez and the GI crew also look at a wide variety of bodybuilder physiques from different divisions. In most cases, these athletes have claimed to be all-natural. Are there any holes in their claims?

The most notable names brought up are Jeff Seid, Chef Rush, and the extremely young bodybuilder Tristyn Lee – who built up quite a reputation due to his shredded body during his teenage years.

This is where things get a bit more dicey. Victor Martinez believes that the general public are far too quick to claim an athlete is enhanced. For Jeff Seid, Martinez is split 50/50. When discussing smaller sized divisions – you do not have the 300 lb mass monster size to make things so obvious. Seid very well could be using steroids but it’s also believable that he’s obtained his physique naturally.

Same can be said for Chef Rush, the team becomes split here on this call. Victor Martinez thinks that with his military background, his dedication to 1,000 pushups a day, and blessed genetics – that his massive arms can be all natural. Ehsan disagrees – thinking that the massive size is just too unrealistic for an all natural individual.

When it comes to the teenage bodybuilder phenom Tristyn Lee, things get more heated. Half of the team believe that he is so young that it’s possible he is natural. That very same logic is used by Victor Martinez and Ehsan as proof that he must be using some form of PEDs. They just don’t believe a kid that young can get that shredded.

This brings up the topic of steroid use in teenagers. Vlad is surprised to learn how allegedly common it is today vs previous decades. Ehsan and Victor explain that the media and also the internet has completely changed the perceptions of steroid use for teens. Access is easier via the web and social media. Victor himself admits that many teenagers have asked about if it’s smart for them to start steroids young. It may not be an epidemic – but it’s a reality in today’s world.

Wrap Up

The goal of the natty or not game is just that – an entertaining way to talk about some of the most notable physiques in bodybuilding and beyond. The speculation around an individual’s natural status can never yield actual truths. Though in some cases, such as Liver King, the constant denial of steroid use can lead to some dark secrets being leaked.

If nothing leaks and no proof can be procured for a person’s entire lifetime – then there is no fundamental truth behind the speculation of PED use and abuse. But it is a game we all play – and one that helps both bust and prove certain myths about these powerful substances.

You can watch the full episode of the Generation Iron Podcast above. And don’t forget to check back every Tuesday for new episodes on the Generation Iron Fitness Network or wherever podcasts are downloaded.

About Jacob Ladon

Jacob Ladon is a staff writer and former amateur bodybuilder. He has been passionate about bodybuilding since he was 15 years old and discovered the joys of training in the gym. He reports and comments on all bodybuilding related matters.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Get the Latest

Stay informed with the latest news, product reviews, & expert advice.

Popular Reviews

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • Performance Lab SPORT BCAA

    The Best BCAA For Bodybuilding Health & Performance Goals

Trending Articles

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

  • The Ultimate Mike Mentzer Workout and Diet

  • Chris bumstead's 2024 workout and diet plan

    Chris Bumstead’s 2025 Complete Bodybuilding Workout & Diet Plan

Popular Now

  • best protein powders

    The Best Protein Powder Supplements of 2025 (Tried and Tested)

  • Best Creatine Supplements For Bulking & Muscle Growth of 2025 (Personally Tested)

  • top x pre workout

    The 14 Best Pre-Workout Supplements of 2025 (MD Reviewed)

  • female fitness models

    18 Best Butts On The Internet (Updated 2024)

  • best citrulline supplements

    The Best Citrulline Malate Supplements for Performance and Pump

  • ronnie coleman the king workout

    Ronnie “The King” Coleman’s Complete Bodybuilding Workout

Generation Iron

Generation Iron is the first and only digital network delivering health, fitness, bodybuilding, and strength sports content. We deliver premium content with the biggest names in fitness and provide expert coverage, reviews on top brands, workout tips and trends in the worlds of fitness, health and strength sports.

Strongman Corporation
Vladar

Sections

  • Trending News
  • Original Movies
  • Original Content
  • Supplement Reviews
  • Equipment Reviews
  • Exercise Guides
  • Nutrition Guides
  • Athlete Profiles

More

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Our Experts
  • Advertise
  • Franchise With Us
  • Podcasts
  • Power 30
  • Shop

CONTACT

Generation Iron Brands LLC
134 West 29th Street Suite 902
New York, NY 10001
Email: [email protected]

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X / Twitter
  • YouTube

© 2025 · Generation Iron · Disclaimers · Privacy Policy · Accessibility