Oprah Winfrey Leaves WeightWatchers Board After Weight Loss Drug Admission

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Oprah Winfrey, the well-known media personality, is parting ways with WeightWatchers after nearly a decade. This decision comes following criticism about her public admission of using a weight loss drug. The weight loss company made it clear in its official statement on Wednesday that there’s no bad blood with Oprah. Her departure from the Board of Directors isn’t due to any disagreements with the company or anything related to the company’s operations, policies, or practices.

Oprah’s Departure and Weight Loss Drug Admission

WW’s CEO Sima Sistani expressed that while they will miss Oprah in their board meetings following the end of her current term, she remains a strong strategic voice and collaborator with WeightWatchers. Oprah’s departure comes after confessing to using weight-loss drugs in December, which raised eyebrows, especially as she had spoken out against similar medications months earlier. She revealed that she had dropped 40 pounds in 2023, and part of her strategy involved medication prescribed by doctors, although she did not disclose the drug’s name.

Criticism and Response

Some individuals, including fitness guru Jillian Michaels, criticized Oprah for not being transparent about WeightWatchers’ investment in a popular weight loss drug. There was speculation that Oprah stood to profit greatly from advocating for the use of such medication. In response to this criticism, Oprah is donating her 1.4% stake in WW to the National Museum of African American History and Culture to “eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight loss medications.”

Stock Impact and Conclusion

The announcement of Oprah’s departure has had a significant impact on the company’s stock, which plummeted more than 20% immediately after the news broke on Thursday morning. Losing Oprah is a blow for any organization, but Oprah’s focus remains on her improved health, both physically and mentally, as she continues her weight loss journey.