A new Netflix documentary is taking a look behind the scenes of one of the most infamous reality TV shows of all time, but one of the stars of the series says the new doc is full of unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements.
Former “Biggest Loser” celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels took to Instagram to speak out after her portrayal in “Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser” on Netflix.
What claims is Michaels challenging?
In the documentary, it’s said that Michaels put contestants at risk by giving them caffeine supplements.
Dr. Robert Huizenga, the “Biggest Loser” physician, alleged that caffeine was banned on the show and that Michaels “never really showed any interest in my advice.”
Michaels challenged this claim in her post, saying that fellow trainer Bob Harper not only knew about the “stackers fat burner” pills, but recommended that she use them.
“I wanted to use my brand instead because they were cleaner and had no more than 200mg of caffeine (equivalent to a strong cup of coffee),” Michaels said.
Harper was interviewed for and participated in the docuseries, while Michaels did not. Harper said in the show that Michaels did not reach out to him when he had a massive heart attack in 2017.
Michaels responded by posting a screenshot of what she claims is her last correspondence with Harper to date, with a timestamp that reads June 15, 2014.
“I really think it’s sh—y of you to not even respond to my texts. It’s this kind of thing that always makes me so disappointed [in] our relationship,” she said to Harper in the screenshot.
Finally, Michaels addressed another claim in the documentary from a former contestant, who claims that the trainer told them “You’re going to make me a millionaire.”
“I want to state unequivocally that this is false,” Michaels said. “The full moment was captured on camera, and both the contestant and I were wearing microphones. If such a comment had been made, it would exist on the audio record.”
According to TMZ, Michaels said that she has plans to speak to Bryan Freedman – the attorney representing Justin Baldoni in his case with Blake Lively. She is reportedly planning to take some form of legal action against Harper, Huizenga, the documentary’s producer and Netflix itself.
History of “The Biggest Loser”
“The Biggest Loser” initially aired from 2004 through 2016 on NBC, and followed several overweight or obese contestants as they sought to lose life-changing amounts of weight.
The show was well known for the dramatic end-of-season transitions its contestants would undergo, with some losing hundreds of pounds.
The show was initially seen as a way to promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle, but concerns over the methods used by Michaels and other trainers caused controversy. Michaels was singled out in most of that criticism due to her tough and sometimes abrasive nature with contestants.
Some contestants have reported life-long physical or mental tolls that the show has taken on them, despite some of them changing their lives for the better with the drastic weight loss.
