Oprah Winfrey’s honesty has rattled Hollywood (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Oprah Winfrey has been unfairly targeted for her weight her entire career.
Even as a youngster growing up in the 1990s, I remember so many of the headlines about her focused on her body and yo-yo diet.
She was the most successful TV personality, yet she was so cruelly criticised for her appearance – although let’s face it, not much has changed when it comes to policing women’s bodies some 30 years later.
It’s no wonder Oprah, who turns 70 next month, has always had a well-publicised battle with her body image.
This month, to promote her new movie The Color Purple, she’s looked noticeably slimmer on the red carpet and hasn’t been shy about showing it off in an array of figure-hugging outfits.
Social media users immediately began commenting on her new look and the former talk show queen soon admitted to using a weight loss drug to achieve her goal.
‘I realised I’d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control,’ she told People, adding that she ‘released [her] own shame’ about weight loss medications having previously said she would never use them.
Aside from the fact she admitted to using controversial weight loss drugs, much of the criticism towards Oprah was that she is still a Weight Watchers ambassador.
The queen of the daytime chat show debuted her newly-slim figure at the premiere of her new film The Color Purple (Picture: FilmMagic)
She once said taking Ozempic is the ‘easy way out’ but is now using weight loss medication herself (Picture: WireImage)
Oprah’s weight struggles have been a hot topic since she rose to fame (Picture: Getty Images)
Oprah didn’t specify which weight loss drug she’s taking but much of the conversation around the medication in recent months has centred on Ozempic, a drug offered as a treatment for people with type 2 diabetes, but which some have been using to shed the pounds.
I completely agree that using any drug, which is intended to help those with serious health conditions, for a non-health related issue shouldn’t be allowed.
But the level of vitriol aimed at Oprah – when we don’t know which drug she is using or the medical conversations she’s had with her doctor – feels uncomfortable.
X user @kpmacster wrote: ‘Oprah is a disgusting hypocrite.’
@arstefanic also branded her a ‘phony’ while @shosh14 wrote: ‘@Oprah you are such a hypocrite. After months of lying and years of shaming people now you’re admitting you’re taking ozempic? Stopped liking you after you brought us @DrOz and @DrPhil but this is now personal. Go away.’
@schmazmom wrote in an Instagram post: ‘Oprah we are all sick of you and all the lies and manipulation! It’s sad to see you change into the person you you’ve become! Scary on how much your fans are so brainwashed!’
It feels as though she’s being used as a scapegoat for a mounting issue – weight loss drugs – when so many other celebrities are taking them in secret and attributing their slimmer frames to intensive gym workouts and healthy eating.
Even if you don’t agree with her weight loss method, at least she was honest about it when so much of Hollywood is smoke and mirrors.
Yes, Oprah once said that using Ozempic would be the ‘easy way out’ but, she was still brave enough to admit to having a change of heart knowing the level of backlash it would attract.
Piers Morgan hosted a debate about her comments on his TalkTV programme Uncensored and criticised her for initially speaking out against weight loss drugs but then using them.
Oprah, here in 2015, will turn 70 next month and is feeling good about her appearance (Picture: Getty Images)
Her weight has always fluctuated over the years (Picture: Getty Images)
Oprah recently said her weight loss journey has been ‘exploited’ (Picture: Getty Images)
Sharon Osbourne has repeatedly discussed her use of Ozempic to lose weight to minimal criticism (Picture: Rex Features)
Adele was largely praised after debuting her weight loss a few years ago (Picture: Getty Images)
However, one of his guests rightfully reminded him: ‘Maybe that was the way she chose to do it then. She literally said in her interview that she has changed her perspective… there’s an evolution about it.’
Interestingly, Piers has not had the same level of criticism for his friend Sharon Osbourne, who has repeatedly talked about her use of Ozempic to lose weight, albeit highlighting the negative effects she has experienced.
Adele did not use weight loss drugs to slim down but, when she debuted her incredible transformation a few years ago, she was largely praised for her commitment to being healthy with only a small pocket of fans claiming they felt ‘betrayed’ that she would dare to shed some pounds after previously saying she had no interest in losing weight.
Adele changed her mind and that’s fine because everyone has the prerogative to do so when it comes to their own bodies.
It’s also fine to have a discussion and debate about Oprah’s U-turn but I think it’s unfair to paint her as the poster girl for weight loss drugs when other celebrities are either denying or refusing to be honest about it.
The backlash towards Oprah is a prime example of a Black woman being torn down by society and being held to account when her non-white peers are given an easy pass. At this point, it’s not surprising but it is exhausting to have it happen time and time again.
Whether we like the truth or not, honesty goes a long way, especially in rose-tinted Hollywood.
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MORE : Oprah Winfrey, 69, reveals jaw-dropping new look at The Color Purple premiere after weight loss
MORE : Oprah Winfrey claims her weight loss struggle has been ‘exploited’
It’s unfair to target her when other celebrities are using in silence.