Jillian Michaels claps back at Biggest Loser accusations and threatens to sue Netflix

Jillian Michaels has hit back at allegations made in Fit For TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser, and she’s now threatening to sue Netflix and her coaching co-star Bob Harper. 

The fitness-guru-turned-right-wing-commentator was the only major player from The Biggest Loser who declined the opportunity to participate in the Netflix docu-series, which examines controversial practices that arose throughout the course of the ‘00s reality show.

Alongside the Rachel Frederickson scandal, it delves into the 2013 incident whereby Michaels was accused of breaking the show’s rules by giving contestants caffeine supplements. 

Harper also claims he never heard from Michaels after suffering a huge heart attack in 2017, implying that the pair were only friends on screen. Now, Michaels is gearing up for a potential legal battle. 

Jillian Michaels considering legal action against Netflix

In a conversation with TMZ, Michaels claimed that the new docu-series is full of lies and that it’s part of a long history of The Biggest Loser producers trying to take her down. 

Right now, she’s considering either dropping the receipts to counter the allegations made against her or simply providing this information to powerhouse attorney Bryan Freedman for a lawsuit against Netflix, Bob Harper, Dr. Robert Huizenga, and Fit for TV’s producers.

On the topic of the caffeine pills, she said, “First of all, at no point was caffeine banned from the show. And actually, if you watch that episode, Alison Sweeney, I’m almost sure – I know for a fact I say it, that they’re allowed to have caffeine, but I’m not allowed to give it to them. 

“I’m almost sure that’s what’s in the show. I haven’t watched it in years.”

Michaels then claimed that not only did she not give Frederickson caffeine supplements, but that she “never even trained” her. As for the image of the Stacker pills, she alleges that they came from Harper. 

“The point I’m trying to make is that this was always intermittently allowed throughout the show. Caffeine was never removed from the show,” she continued. 

“And then I have an entire email chain with the show’s producer and the show’s nutritionist asking why Dr. Huizenga had just taken this away because they were drinking unlimited amounts of coffee.”

Netflix

When asked why she was the only one penalized for this on The Biggest Loser, Michaels replied, “Because I personally gave it to them and in my contract it says you’re not allowed.”

The topic of conversation then turned to Harper, with Michaels saying she doesn’t know why there seems to be bad blood between the pair. “It’s been like this always,” she said. 

Michaels also discussed why she didn’t get involved in the Netflix doc, stating, “The man who green lit and purchased this documentary is Brandon Riegg. And Brandon Riegg is the one who worked with NBC to essentially take me down over this whole caffeine thing. 

“And I knew that it was going to be a hit piece. And I was like, ‘I’m not participating in this. This is not going to be good.’”

While Michaels said she’s hesitant to take legal action against those involved due to the costs and time, “it’s so egregious and it’s so damaging that I don’t think I have a choice.”

She confirmed that she’d be meeting with Justin Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman, but that was yesterday (August 19), meaning we can expect an update in the days to come. 

Receipts shared in response to Fit For TV documentary 

Alongside her interview with TMZ, Michaels has shared a series of Instagram posts featuring screenshots of email threads and text messages that she says back up her claims. The first shows her seemingly discussing caffeine supplements, with Harper and others looped in. 

Alongside the screenshots, she wrote, “Here is an email chain with Bob Harper – The Biggest Loser’s producers – Dr. Huizenga’s guy, Sandy Krum, who stayed on set with us and distributed the fat burners about which ‘fat burners’ / caffeine pills to purchase the contestants. 

“This is one email of many that shows: Dr. Huizenga did approve caffeine pills on many seasons of Biggest Loser. Bob Harper not only knew about the caffeine pills, the ‘Stackers fat burner’ were actually his suggestion. 

“I wanted to use my brand instead because they were cleaner and had no more than 200mg of caffeine (equivalent to a strong cup of coffee). Caffeine was NEVER banned on The Biggest Loser. Wild how some folks still lie like it’s 1985 before texts and email were a thing.”

She went on to say, “And, the last image is my second-to-last text ever to Bob Harper. Take from it what you will.” It reads, “I really think it’s sh*tty of you to not even respond to my texts. It’s this kind of thing that always makes me so disappointed by our relationship.”

This was followed by a text message exchange, which she claims disproves the allegation that she whispered, “You’re going to make me a millionaire,” to Season 1 winner Ryan Benson during the finale. 

“The full moment was captured on camera, and both the contestant and I were wearing microphones. If such a comment had been made, it would exist on the audio record,” she said. 

“Furthermore, two of the show’s executive producers, Mark Koops and Dave Broome, have each provided written statements in text messages to my business partner confirming that this exchange never occurred.”

In response to the allegation that she restricted contestants’ diets, Michaels shared a screenshot of one email in which she told one cast member to eat 1,600 calories that day. 

Finally, she shared an email in which Michaels is asked for loyalty. There’s no name or time stamp, but Michaels wrote in the caption that she had “raised serious concerns both publicly and to NBC directly about contestant health and the condition of Rachel” Frederickson.

“In response, I received a direct email from Paul Telegdy, then-Chairman of NBC Entertainment,” she added. 

“In that email, he made clear that if I did not publicly condone the appearance of contestant Rachel Frederickson at the show’s finale, NBC would pursue legal action against me. I resigned from The Biggest Loser shortly thereafter.”

Michaels receives mixed response to backlash

While these posts provide a glimpse into her side of the story, many of them are taken out of context and raise questions about how they might play into any potential lawsuit. 

Legal experts often caution that making evidence public on social media before presenting it in court can complicate proceedings, since context and admissibility are just as important as the content itself. 

As such, Michaels has been receiving mixed responses from netizens. On Instagram, comments are limited on her posts, but her fans have shared messages of support, suggesting “Hollywood” and the “mainstream media” is out to get her. 

“The reality is Hollywood no longer likes what you’re doing SPEAKING THE TRUTH and standing up for what’s right in our country today,” wrote one. “Sabotage is what they try to do when you start going against the grain.”

Another commented, “I’ve been waiting for these posts since I watched the documentary. You’re doing something right when mainstream media starts coming for you.”

A third added, “I will be honest, I was a little bummed when I saw that in the documentary. I’m glad to hear it’s not true.”

Over on YouTube, spectators aren’t so sure. “She seems to be speaking in circles. Not sure how credible she sounds,” said one, while another wrote, “She gives off grifter, shady liar vibes. ‘It was allowed, everyone did it’ but then ‘In my contract I was not allowed’.”

A third added, “Why is she b*tchin about the content of the doc NOW when Netflix had given her the opportunity to participate in it while filming?! Not to mention, she’s talking in circles and contradicting herself.”

Fit For TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser is streaming on Netflix now. For more documentary news, read about Trainwreck: Poop Cruise, where Storm Area 51’s Matty Roberts is now, and whether Project X was a real party.