Celebrity fitness trainer Jillian Michaels generated controversy online by asking why people are supposed to care about singer Lizzo’s weight, correctly noting that obesity can cause a wide range of health problems.
Michaels made the comments on Wednesday during an interview on BuzzFeed’s “AM to DM” where the subject of body positivity was brought up.
“I have to say, I have personally found and I love celebrities like Lizzo or Ashley Graham who are really preaching self-acceptance,” the host said.
“I love her music, yeah, 100 percent,” Michaels responded. “I don’t know anything about her, I’m sure she’s a cool, awesome chick.”
“Yeah, and I love that they’re putting images out there that we normally don’t get to see of bodies that we don’t get to see being celebrated,” the host continued.
“But why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? That’s what I’m saying. Why aren’t we celebrating her music? ‘Because it isn’t going to be awesome if she gets diabetes,” Michaels said. “I’m just being honest. I love her music, my kid loves her music, but there’s never a moment when I’m like, ‘I’m so glad she’s overweight.’ Why do I even care? Why is it my job to care about her weight?”
WATCH:
.@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
While some reacted negative to Michaels stating the truth about obesity, others praised her for speaking the truth.
Turning Point USA podcast host Alex Clark wrote on Twitter: “Truth [bomb emoji]: @JillianMichaels was CORRECT to be concerned about Lizzo’s weight. The “body positivity movement” isn’t actually about being healthy. It’s about accepting any and all dangerous behavior and saying “you do you” cause people are scared of being called names if they don’t.”
Truth 💣: @JillianMichaels was CORRECT to be concerned about Lizzo’s weight.
The “body positivity movement” isn’t actually about being healthy. It’s about accepting any and all dangerous behavior and saying “you do you” cause people are scared of being called names if they don’t
— Alex Clark 💖🇺🇸 (@yoalexrapz) January 9, 2020
“We need to STOP praising dangerously unhealthy bodies-big or small. IF YOU ENABLE THIS IT’S ASSISTED SUICIDE. Confidence is great, but if ‘loving yourself’ means accepting behavior that’s literally KILLING yourself, than that’s not loving yourself,” Clark continued. “This idea of enabling self-harming behavior in the name of ‘acceptance’ is so sad. I love Lizzo’s music and personality. I want her to stick around! You would say the same thing to someone like Demi Lovato who has struggled with the other end of the spectrum and NOT eating.”
This idea of enabling self-harming behavior in the name of “acceptance” is so sad.
I love Lizzo’s music and personality. I want her to stick around!
You would say the same thing to someone like Demi Lovato who has struggled with the other end of the spectrum and NOT eating.
— Alex Clark 💖🇺🇸 (@yoalexrapz) January 9, 2020
Michaels later released a statement clarifying that she was not trying to personally attack Lizzo, but wanted to highlight that you should love yourself and that part of loving yourself if caring about being healthy.
Michaels said, “As I’ve stated repeatedly, we are all beautiful, worthy, and equally deserving. I also feel strongly that we love ourselves enough to acknowledge there are serious health consequences that come with obesity – heart disease, diabetes, cancer to name only a few. I would never wish these for ANYONE and I would hope we prioritize our health because we LOVE ourselves and our bodies.”
— Jillian Michaels (@JillianMichaels) January 9, 2020
Comedian Josh Denny added, “As an overweight fat person, I 100% agree with @JillianMichaels about Lizzo. Accepting being fat is the same as accepting being poor or unsuccessful. Nobody wants it; it’s a matter of how hard we want to change it. But stop disguising ‘giving up’ as ‘acceptance.'”
As an overweight fat person, I 💯agree with @JillianMichaels about Lizzo. Accepting being fat is the same as accepting being poor or unsuccessful. Nobody wants it; it’s a matter of how hard we want to change it. But stop disguising “giving up” as “acceptance.”
— Josh Denny (@JoshDenny) January 8, 2020
“Rebranding failure as success is delusion disguised as progressiveness. Real acceptance is saying ‘hey, I don’t like where I’m at right now and I need to work to fix it,'” Denny continued. “BTW, if you think my subsequent comments on weight loss, success, failure is anything other than my personal thoughts about the matter, you’re projecting and should probably put down the fork.”
BTW, if you think my subsequent comments on weight loss, success, failure is anything other than my personal thoughts about the matter, you’re projecting and should probably put down the fork.
— Josh Denny (@JoshDenny) January 8, 2020