Jillian Michaels Looking to Quit Biggest Loser
Famed fitness guru Jillian Michaels, one of The Biggest Loser’s trainers, is looking to leave the show, according to Us Magazine. Michaels left the show once before in 2011. Michaels, 40, “regrets” her 2013 return to the weight-loss competition, an insider reported to Us. “They paint her to be an a–hole. She’s the only woman trainer, and she gets a bad rap. She’s sick of being painted as the bad guy.”
The source adds: “Everyone who knows Jillian knows she is the sweetest woman. No one can ever say a bad word about her. She’s nice, calm, and so sure of herself.”
The mom of two was one of the NBC show’s original trainers since it debuted in 2004. She took a brief hiatus in 2006 but was otherwise a regular presence on the series until 2011, when she left to “focus on becoming a mommy and doing more charity work,” Michaels said via Twitter. She returned for Loser‘s 14th season two years later.
The show’s most recent 15th season was controversial, with winner Rachel Frederickson shrinking to a unhealthy-looking 105 pounds after losing 155 pounds. Michaels herself looked shocked when Frederickson appeared on stage during the live finale. With that season behind her, the fan favorite trainer and Losing It With Jillian alum reportedly wants out.
“Nothing is official yet, but Jillian has said she wants off TBL,” an E! Online source explains. “She wasn’t happy with how last season went. The shocking weight loss of Rachel [Frederickson] doesn’t do the brand any favors and she wants to distance her name from it.”
Perhaps adding to Michaels’ desire to leave was the way the show handled the controversy surrounding her decision to give caffeine supplements to contestants without permission from a doctor. This was technically breaking the rules.
But Michaels stood by her decision, and hinted that the fallout (her team received a four-point disadvantage and opposing contestant Ruben Studdard was allowed back into the competition) was a ploy for ratings.
The E! source says Michaels “did not appreciate how the caffeine pill controversy went down. She felt like they threw her under the bus.”
Michaels’ rep Leslie Sloane had no comment.
(Photo by Gary Miller/Getty Images for Motorola Xoom)
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