The Biggest Loser host is now a just a loser after ‘fatphobic’ policing of Lizzo’s body
The Biggest Loser coach Jillian Michaels (R) argued that people should celebrate Lizzo’s “music” not her “body”. (Don Arnold/Getty Images/John Lamparski/Getty Images)
The Biggest Loser‘s Jillian Michaels is now officially the biggest loser after she decided to say that our lord and saviour Lizzo’s body should not be “celebrated”.
A celebrity trainer, Michaels stirred up the controversy on Wednesday during an appearance on BuzzFeed News’ AM to DM by questioning why Lizzo’s body is praised instead of her music.
Critics quickly shammed the fitness expert, noting that not only do people already celebrate Lizzo’s music, but both her music and her body can be celebrated at the same time.
The Biggest Loser coach cuts into Lizzo: ‘Cause it isn’t going to be awesome if she gets diabetes.’
On the show, co-host Alex Berg moved the conversation to Michaels’ track record for having concerns over the “political correctness” in the wellness world.
Berg implored seeing plus-size celebrities gaining profile these days and how an increasing amount of people are supporting body-positivity, such as Lizzo.
Jillian Michaels visits BuzzFeed’s “AM To DM” on January 08, 2020 in New York City. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)
“Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren’t we celebrating her music?” Michaels asked, doubling down on her stance as she cut Berg off.
“‘Cause it isn’t going to be awesome if she gets diabetes.”
Oh.
“I’m just being honest,” Michaels said. “I love her music, my kid loves her music, but there’s never a moment where I’m like: ‘I’m so glad that she’s overweight.'”
Michaels’ comments – part of a broader chat on body positivity – ignited fury from fans of Lizzo as well as body positivity advocates, accusing her of being “fatphobic”.
.@JillianMichaels on Lizzo: "Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren't we celebrating her music? 'Cause it isn't gonna be awesome if she gets diabetes." pic.twitter.com/FkKBd8J87b
— AM2DM by BuzzFeed News (@AM2DM) January 8, 2020
The clip drew crowds of critics as more than 2.3 million watched it.
‘I had to restrain myself from defending Lizzo’s honour.’
Detractors hounded Michaels, who burst into the public sphere for appearing on NBC’s controversial weight-loss contest, in a three-pronged attack: for the hypocrisy of her judging someone’s health based on their body, for body-shaming in-itself and for implying that Lizzo will develop diabetes because of her body.
They should do a spinoff of Netflix's YOU. Except one that shows how thin people are so fucking obsessed with fat people. What we eat. How we sleep. Our health. Our sex lives. Our clothing. https://t.co/Di0lidXRa7— Janice the Menace (@Cthulhucachoo) January 9, 2020
Ohhh ok, this is why y'all was talking about fat shaming and diabetes yesterday. Jillian Michaels needs to stfu https://t.co/WES8wcrzH3— Go King Beef! (@RealKnowledge) January 9, 2020
Berg herself later jumped in amid piling criticism, noting she had to “restrain herself from defending Lizzo’s honour”.
What I was going to say here is that Lizzo has been incredibly important in giving so many of us a possibility model for accepting our bodies as we are and celebrating bodies that are normally ridiculed. Had to restrain myself from defending Lizzo's honor! https://t.co/UH2k5MulWo— Alex Berg (@itsalexberg) January 8, 2020
In an attempt to clarify her comments, Michaels took to Twitter today to note that while people are “all beautiful worthy and equally deserving”, she also strongly believes that “we love ourselves enough to acknowledge there are serious health consequences that come with obesity”.
“I would never wish these for anyone and I would hope we prioritise our health because we love ourselves and our bodies,” Michaels wrote in the statement.
Michaels’ comments come after Lizzo “quit Twitter” this week, citing that the “trolls” were proving too much for her.
Currently on the Australian leg of her tour, she’s been spending her time offline by volunteering at an Australian food bank and finding ways to help Australians displaced by the bushfires.
