Things got awkward between Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar on the Wednesday, May 27, episode of The View. Tension rose toward the end of the episode when Mindy Kaling discussed how she handled the negative feedback after she dropped a significant amount of weight.
The Stars Discuss How the Public Reacts to Celebrity Weight Loss
“They say everything. They trash us,” noted Behar, who has used Ozempic to drop 25 pounds. “I think we all think it’s weird when public figures lose weight because we want this perfectly consistent narrative of their lives… I think we feel betrayed,” The Office alum explained.
The cast brought up how Oprah Winfrey’s show ratings dropped when she lost weight years ago. “They want you to stay the way they loved you,” Behar said.
Whoopi Goldberg Shuts Down Joy Behar
Goldberg joined in on the conversation, recalling how she once weighed 300 pounds. “No you did not,” Behar said, brushing off her claims, to which the EGOT winner replied, “Yes I did!”
“No,” Behar repeated, prompting Goldberg to address her directly with a stern tone and state: “Joy, I did.”
‘I Looked Like 5 People’
“When was that? Since I’ve known you?” asked her co-host.
“When I did [2022’s] Till, I was 279, and I looked like five people,” the actress admitted, prompting someone off frame to say, “That’s a stretch.”
“They say Black don’t crack? You don’t have anything hanging. How could that be?” she asked of her weight loss, to which the Ghost star quipped, “It’s hanging, you just don’t see it!”
“My point is, people get mad at you because you did something they want to do, but they don’t have the impetus yet, they don’t know how to get it there, resources, it’s all kinds of stuff,” Goldberg concluded of the topic.
Whoopi Goldberg Used Mounjaro
The Sister Act star previously confessed to using weight-loss drug Mounjaro to drop around 180 pounds. “I’m doing that wonderful shot that works for folks who need some help and it’s been really good for me. I’ve lost almost two people,” she noted on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Goldberg admitted she wasn’t aware of just how big she was since she was just “living life.”
“You say to people, ‘Did I always look like that?’ When you realize it, you go ‘D—,’ and everyone says, ‘Well, I thought you knew,” she recalled of witnessing her own transformation.
Key Takeaways from the Discussion
- Public figures often face criticism when they lose weight, as audiences expect them to remain consistent with their image.
- The pressure to maintain a certain appearance can lead to feelings of betrayal or confusion among fans.
- Weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are becoming more common among celebrities seeking to manage their health.
- Personal experiences with weight loss vary, and many individuals struggle with self-perception and societal expectations.
The Broader Conversation
The discussion on The View highlights a growing trend in how society views celebrity weight loss. While some see it as a positive step towards health, others question the motivations behind such changes. This debate is further complicated by the availability of weight-loss medications and the increasing visibility of these issues in the media.
As more celebrities speak openly about their struggles, it becomes clear that the conversation around body image and health is evolving. Whether through personal choices or medical assistance, the journey to weight loss is deeply personal and often fraught with challenges.
For those watching, the message is clear: every individual’s path is unique, and the judgment they face can be both harsh and unfair. As Whoopi Goldberg demonstrated, standing up for one’s truth is an essential part of navigating these complex discussions.
