Andrey Smaev, one of the most recognized figures in fitness and strength social media over the past year, has announced his sudden retirement from all social media platforms after a private video of him and his wife was leaked by a hacker.
Standing 6’1″ tall and weighing nearly 350 lbs, with 26-inch biceps and 23-inch forearms, Smaev had built a massive following across platforms, most notably accumulating 1.3 million followers and 60.9 million total likes on TikTok. His feats of strength and extraordinary physical measurements made him one of the most viral fitness personalities in recent memory.
According to sources, in a farewell video posted to his followers, Smaev explained that a hacker had gained access to private footage of him and his wife and had been using it as leverage against him for years.
According to a translated account from Kim Souza, wife of Russian bodybuilder Good Vito, the situation had been ongoing for three years.
“A hacker for 3 years blackmailed him because he had taken some intimate videos of him with his wife via webcam or some kind of camera he had at home, and Andrey was always threatened by that hacker saying that he’d post everything if he doesn’t pay him,” Souza explained. “So, apparently all this time Andrey has been paying this hacker, but a moment came when he didn’t pay anymore, and the video was leaked. It’s just an intimate video of him and his wife, nothing much, and that’s why he gave up social media.”
In his farewell message, Smaev apologized to his fans and expressed that he believed he had offended people with the release of the video.
Many supporters have echoed the view that Smaev’s decision appears to be driven more by the embarrassment of having deeply private, consensual footage exposed than by the content itself.
Additionally, one reported form of payment to the hacker involved surrendering control of Smaev’s Instagram account, raising questions about how much of his social media presence was actually being managed by the hacker rather than Smaev himself.
Reports from those who have reportedly seen the footage describe it as entirely ordinary, with comments indicating there is nothing controversial or unusual about the content.
Others have also expressed hope that Smaev will eventually return, arguing that the leak does not change how fans view him.
