Jillian Michaels has opted not to return for season 16 of The Biggest Loser. NBC has released a statement on her departure but not word yet from Michaels herself.
After helping hundreds of contestants transform their lives and inspiring millions of viewers at home, The Biggest Loser and Jillian Michaels have decided to part ways and she will not be returning for season 16 when it airs in the fall.
Last season when contestant Rachel Frederickson went from 260 lbs to a mere 105 lbs—shocking viewers and raising concerns about the health aspect of losing 60% of one’s bodyweight over a fairly short period of time—Michaels was vocal about her belief that Frederickson had gone too far. Soon after, it was reported that Michaels was looking to distance herself from the show as Frederickson’s extreme weight loss “doesn’t do the brand any favors.”
Although, I would argue that Michaels’ drill sergeant-style training kind of plays exactly into that type of branding.
Either way, as it stands, Michaels’ days of yelling people into weight loss are over. Although, she previously left the show in 2006, returning in 2007 and then left again in 2011 missing seasons 12 and 13 only to return for seasons 14 and 16, so really, who knows?
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