For a certain generation, Oprah Winfrey might be as synonymous with her public battle with her weight as she is for her iconic television show and acting roles. Now, she’s acknowledging the potentially dangerous role she played in the former.
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In the recent three-hour special “Making the Shift” sponsored by WeightWatchers – for whom she’s a former board member — Winfrey apologized to the audience for being a “major contributor” in perpetuating America’s “diet culture.” Several celebrities who have also struggled with weight as a part of their identity joined Winfrey on the panel, including Rebel Wilson and Amber Phillips.
“I have been a steadfast participant in this diet culture,” said Winfrey. “Through my platforms, through the magazine, through the talk show for 25 years and online.”
“I’ve been a major contributor to it. I cannot tell you how many weight-loss shows and makeovers I have done, and they have been a staple since I’ve been working in television.”
Winfrey reminded audiences of one of the most memorable moments from her legendary talk show – which she has frequently described as one of the biggest regrets of her career: It was in 1998 when Winfrey started a new season pulling a red wagon filled with 67 pounds of fat, which was how much weight she’d lost at the time.
“I’ve shared how that famous wagon of fat moment on the ‘Oprah’ show is one of my biggest regrets,” she continued. “It sent a message that starving yourself with a liquid diet — it set a standard for people watching that I nor anybody else could uphold.”
The 70-year-old icon, who recently disclosed that she lost weight using the popular diet drug Ozempic, recently reflected during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel on what her weight loss journey has been like and why she wants she wants to again speak frankly about it.
“I decided that because this special was really important to me and I wanted to be able to talk about whatever I wanted to talk about, and WeightWatchers is now in the business of being a weight health company that also administers drug medications for weight,” she explained.
Winfrey was once on the board of directors of the weight loss giant. After resigning, donated all of her shares to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, according to Page Six.
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