Jillian Michaels Reveals the Real Reason She Left The Biggest Loser (Again)

Michaels, who has left the NBC reality hit two times before, cited "fundamental differences" with the show's producers as one of her reasons for leaving

By Tierney Bricker Jul 17, 2014 4:02 PMTags
Jillian MichaelsCourtesy of Don Flood

Jillian Michaels is ready to shed the negativity. 

After the controversy surrounding Season 15 winner Rachel Frederickson's shocking weight loss and accusations of cheating, Michaels recently announced that she would not be returning for The Biggest Loser's upcoming 16th season. This is Michael's third time leaving the NBC reality hit (she returned in Season 14), but it looks like this exit will be a permanent one.

In an interview with People, Michaels is opening up about her "sad" decision to leave the show and how Frederickson's controversial win made her take "a hard look" at The Biggest Loser...

"There were some fundamental differences [with Loser's producers] that have existed for a while," Michaels explained, saying she didn't like the way she was portrayed in the last two seasons of the show. "You saw none of the relationships, none of the bonds that I build with my clients," she said. 

And Michaels talked about how Rachel Frederickson's shocking weight loss (she dropped an alarming 155 pounds) forced her to re-evaluate what she was doing on The Biggest Loser, something she spoke out about after the finale. "I thought she had lost too much weight and I was immediately concerned and wondering how this happened, how no one had said something to me and how the checks and balances that have been put into place, in my opinion, this had fallen through those checks and balances," she said at the time.

And in the interview with People, she admitted, "I had to take a hard look at my work. I came to the conclusion that moving forward, I need to be able to have an impact on the outcome of what I do."  

Still, Michaels said she is "sad" to leave the show and hopes fans understand why she chose not to return.

"I don't want fans to think I feel like I'm too big for the show or that I'm seeking greener pastures," she stressed. "I'm so grateful to the show and so sad to leave." 

Season 16 of The Biggest Loser kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. on NBC. 

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)