Fitness influencer Lee “Malibu” Markham is speaking out after admitting that a key part of his public story is not true.
Markham, who rose to viral popularity in recent months under the handle @malibufitmaxx, built a strong following across both fitness and military communities on Instagram. As his platform grew, so did scrutiny, particularly surrounding his appearance.
While online critics frequently speculated about plastic surgery and facial fillers, a narrative circulated that Markham’s facial features were the result of injuries sustained in combat, specifically from an improvised explosive device.
But on Friday, February 27, Markham addressed the controversy directly in a video on Instagram.
“I wanted to talk to you directly about the claim that I made, taking an IED blast to the face,” he began. He clarified, “I want to be clear I did serve between 2005 and 2010.” He added that his military service remains something he is proud of and that he has “always had deep respect for the men and women who served alongside me, especially those who suffered more than I ever have.”
However, Markham acknowledged that the IED claim was fabricated. “Instead of facing that right away, I made a bad decision and put ‘IED Survivor’ in my bio. That was not true and it was wrong.” He continued, “Truly I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart.”
View this post on InstagramThe influencer said criticism about his appearance contributed to the decision, admitting he “didn't handle it well” while adjusting to public attention. “I take full responsibility for it,” he stated, adding, “Trust is earned. It's not owed.”
Despite the controversy, many followers appear to be extending grace in the comment section of his apology video.
“We forgive you bro all love ❤️?,” one fan wrote, while another agreed, “Immediate accountability, no excuses, no perfectly curated video. Good stuff man.”
Another shared, “The guy just wanted to stop being bullied. So sad people have to hate and be mean.”
“We’re good bro. I get it and you’d never expect to be at a million followers in a few weeks. We all cope with our stuff in different ways. You handled this as best as anyone could,” a third replied before thanking the fitness guru. “Thanks for being a ray of sunshine, now that this is cleared up you got the world ahead of you.”
? SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox ?Others were still a little shocked at the admission, however.“Bro to make a lie like that though cmon....” one user said. Another commented, “Not cool. ?.”Another stated, “Idk anyone that would make up that lie. Yall are saying good job for owning up to that which is odd to me. He lied for a minute about that now and so many people blew up his page because of it.”
While questions remain about how the narrative initially spread, Markham has said he intends to move forward with transparency, telling viewers, “All I can do is be honest with you guys going forward and let my actions speak for myself over time.”
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