Formerly-convicted Bodybuilder Akinwale Arobieke, ‘Purple Aki,’ dies at 64 in the UK

Akinwale Arobieke, the prominent bodybuilder widely known as ‘Purple Aki,’ has passed away at the age of 64 in his flat on Devonshire Road in Toxteth, Liverpool, United Kingdom. His death, which occurred on August 26, is not being treated as suspicious by the local police.

Mr. Arobieke, a figure whose life was marked by both athletic prowess and legal controversies, was found unresponsive at his residence. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 8:30 PM on Monday. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, and a file is being prepared for the coroner, according to local reports.

Originally from Crumpsall in north Manchester, Purple Aki gained notoriety for his unusual criminal convictions related to harassment, specifically for touching the muscles of young men. In the 1990s, stories circulated in the North West of England about a man who would ask to feel men’s muscles. In 2003, he was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of harassing 15 men.

Despite being branded a ‘modern-day bogeyman,’ Arobieke consistently maintained his innocence, claiming he was the victim of a ‘witch hunt’ by police after he filed official complaints against certain officers. His legal battles continued even while incarcerated; in 2006, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was issued, prohibiting him from touching men’s muscles, visiting gyms, or asking strangers to perform squats.

In a notable turn of events, Purple Aki successfully appealed against a 10-year ban on touching men’s biceps in 2016, representing himself in court. Furthermore, in 2022, he received a substantial payout from the Greater Manchester Police after suing the Chief Constable for malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office. He alleged that two GMP officers had targeted him in a campaign to get him into trouble, and three of his complaints against GMP officers were upheld.

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Akinwale Arobieke’s life was a complex narrative that often intersected with legal and public scrutiny. His passing marks the end of a life that, for many, became synonymous with a unique and controversial public persona in the UK.

This report will be updated as more details emerge regarding his passing.