When it comes to Netflix’s new Biggest Loser documentary, Jillian Michaels has one clear answer: thanks, but no thanks.
The former trainer, who became a household name during her years on the NBC competition series, was noticeably absent from Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser. While the three-part series featured commentary from host Alison Sweeney, trainer Bob Harper and past contestants, Jillian opted out — and she has no regrets about it.
“Zero regrets about not doing it,” Jillian told Fox News Digital in an interview published Aug. 25. “Because I would have simply lent credibility to something that is an egregious lie.”
According to Jillian, Netflix’s take on the hit series was riddled with “literally just lie upon lie.” Rather than add her voice, she said she’s considering a different approach. The 51-year-old revealed that she may team up with some of the show’s original executive producers on a project of their own to present their version of events. “I might do that,” she explained. “There is talk of that. I might take that path instead, and I think I don’t know that I am necessarily going to need to sue because it’s very timely. It’s very expensive.” Still, she admitted she’s weighing whether the battle is worth it, adding, “I’m choosing my battles because there are a lot to fight.”
Jillian’s decision comes after the Netflix documentary spotlighted accusations of unethical practices during her tenure, including bullying contestants, dangerously restricting calories, and providing caffeine pills to boost weight loss. She has strongly denied the pill allegations, telling TMZ she never offered anything of the sort.
That said, Jillian doesn’t claim her time on The Biggest Loser was flawless. “There were a lot of mistakes made,” she acknowledged to Fox, though she emphasized there were “very few” that she had any control over. She took some accountability, saying, “Now, here’s where the blame lies at my feet: ‘Well, you participated, and you benefited, and you profited,’ and I did. I felt very strongly that I was able to move the needle in the direction I wanted for many seasons. I thought like, ‘Well, the good outweighs the bad by a long shot.’”
Her off-screen drama hasn’t been limited to Netflix, either. Recently, Bob Harper told The Guardian that Jillian never reached out after his 2017 heart attack, which he found telling. “We weren’t besties, but we were partners on a television show for a very long time,” Bob said. “So when she didn’t reach out, it spoke volumes.”
Jillian fired back on the Hot Mics with Billy Bush podcast on Aug. 20, admitting she was “shocked and disappointed” by his comments. Still, she added, “I actually do hope that Bob is happy and well.”
