Jillian Michaels is doubling down on her comments about Lizzo’s weight, writing on Twitter that she hopes “we prioritize our health.”
The celebrity fitness trainer and former Biggest Loser coach sparked backlash on social media Wednesday when she appeared on Buzzfeed’s AM to DM, and responded to a question by saying Lizzo’s body positivity message should not be celebrated.
“Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren’t we celebrating her music? ‘Cause it isn’t going to be awesome if she gets diabetes,” Michaels said in the interview. “I’m just being honest. I love her music, my kid loves her music, but there’s never a moment where 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?”
.@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
Lizzo did not directly respond to Michaels. But in an Instagram post Wednesday, the rapper and singer shared a positive message and wrote, “This is my life. I have done nothing wrong. I forgive myself for thinking I was wrong in the first place. I deserve to be happy.”
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After being accused of body-shaming Lizzo and being called “fatphobic,” Michaels defended her comments.
“As I’ve stated repeatedly, we are all beautiful, worthy, and equally deserving,” Michaels tweeted. “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
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer that are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death.”
