August 27, (THEWILL) — Controversial British bodybuilder, Akinwale Arobieke, widely known as “Purple Aki,” has died at the age of 64.
Merseyside Police confirmed that Arobieke was found dead on Tuesday at his flat on Devonshire Road, Toxteth, Liverpool. Officers discovered his body at about 8:30 p.m. on August 26 following reports of an unresponsive man.
A police spokesperson said:
“We can confirm that emergency services were in the Toxteth area following a non-suspicious death last night, Tuesday 26 August. At around 8.30pm, officers were made aware of a man in his 60s being found unresponsive at an address in Devonshire Road, Princes Park.
“He was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene. The man’s death is not suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Born Akinwale Oluwafolajimi Oluwatope Arobieke on July 15, 1961, to a Nigerian mother who was a secretarial student in the UK, Arobieke became a notorious figure in northwest England in the 1990s.
He gained notoriety for approaching young men, particularly rugby players, asking to touch their muscles, urging them to pose, and giving unsolicited exercise advice.
His peculiar behaviour turned him into an “urban legend” in Merseyside, with teenagers trading stories about encounters with the man who became known as the “muscle squeezer.”
Arobieke’s notoriety translated into several criminal convictions. In 2003, he was jailed for six years for harassing 15 men.
He was later subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that barred him from touching men’s muscles or entering gyms. Despite the restrictions, he repeatedly breached the order.
In 2015, he was convicted for touching a young man’s muscles on a train from Manchester to North Wales, and in 2017, he received a 10-year ban on contacting men’s biceps, though it was later overturned on appeal.
In 2022, Arobieke won damages from Greater Manchester Police after successfully suing for malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office, alleging a targeted campaign against him by two officers.
Despite his denials of wrongdoing and claims of being the victim of a “witch hunt,” “Purple Aki” remained one of the UK’s most infamous cult figures until his death.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
