Jillian Michaels Refuses to Participate in Netflix’s Biggest Loser Documentary Over Ethical Concerns
Alright, let me spell this out for you because clearly, you wouldn’t have clicked here if you had all the facts already. Jillian Michaels, the fiery fitness guru who became a household name thanks to The Biggest Loser, has made it crystal clear why she refused to be part of Netflix’s recent docuseries on the show. Spoiler alert: she thinks the whole thing is a load of lies. And if you think that’s harsh, just wait until you hear the rest.
Michaels, who trained contestants on and off from 2004 to 2014, didn’t mince words when explaining her decision to sit out of Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser. In an interview with Fox News Digital, she stated she had “zero regrets” about skipping the project because she believes the documentary is built on “literally just lie upon lie.” Bold? Absolutely. But if you’ve followed Michaels’ career, you know she’s never been one to hold back.
The Netflix series, which includes commentary from former co-host Alison Sweeney, trainer Bob Harper, and several contestants, paints a grim picture of the show’s behind-the-scenes practices. Among the most explosive claims? That Michaels encouraged unethical tactics like calorie restriction and even handed out caffeine pills to contestants to speed up weight loss. She’s denied those allegations to TMZ, calling them flat-out false.
Still, Michaels isn’t entirely innocent in her own telling. She admitted that “a lot of mistakes were made” during her time on the show, but stressed that she had little control over the production decisions. Her defense? That she believed the positive impact she had on people’s lives outweighed the show’s flaws. “I thought like, ‘Well, the good outweighs the bad by a long shot,’” she told Fox News.
But it’s not just the documentary that’s reignited old tensions. Michaels also found herself in a public spat with former co-trainer Bob Harper, who revealed in a recent interview that she never reached out after his 2017 heart attack. “We weren’t besties, but we were partners on a television show for a very long time,” he told The Guardian. “It spoke volumes.” Michaels, for her part, said she was “shocked and disappointed” by his comments but still hopes he’s “happy and well.”
Meanwhile, the docuseries also revisits the post-show struggles of contestants like Ryan Benson, the show’s first winner, who gained most of his weight back shortly after his victory. Benson, now a Lionsgate executive, expressed regret over not being able to maintain his transformation, but also praised the more body-positive attitudes of the younger generation—specifically his children.
Michaels, ever the fighter, hinted that she and some former producers might launch their own project to tell their side of the story. She hasn’t ruled out legal action either, though she’s weighing the cost and timing. “I’m choosing my battles because there are a lot to fight,” she said, which sounds suspiciously like a warning shot to Netflix.
So, if you were hoping for a full reconciliation or a dramatic onscreen appearance from Michaels, you’re out of luck. But if you were looking for drama, tension, and a healthy dose of reality TV tea, well—you’re in luck.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Fox News Digital, TMZ, The Guardian, Netflix, E! News
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