Biggest Loser Trainers Go Too Far
Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
The generally uplifting nature of past seasons deserved better than what we got this time around. No doubt, seven seasons of Biggest Loser inspiration has prompted many viewers to dig deep, change their habits and lose weight. The show shines a bright light on the bleak reality of our nation's skyrocketing obesity rates by modeling positive, life-lengthening journeys of 300-plus pound contestants shedding the pounds non-surgically. Yet after priming fans with Season 8 promos filled with hugging, crying and inspired contestants, viewers were greeted with an overload of swearing and humiliation. This has left some questioning whether "The Biggest Loser" is really a family-friendly show anymore.
This isn't the first time we've seen Jillian and Bob get tough on the contestants though. Click through the gallery below to see the trainers' biggest blow-ups and worst put-downs over the past few seasons, then let us know if you think the vulgarity has gone too far.
The F-Bomb Scream-Fest
Nine trainer f-bombs were dropped during the Season 8 premiere's first- and last-chance workouts. Jillian, of course, had eight of them, and that's only what made the final cut. One reader told That's Fit, "I watched it once this season, but quickly decided that I didn't want to listen to all of the cursing." Perhaps this is why Week 2 .
Biggest Loser Blow Outs
By Bev Sklar
The F-Bomb Scream-Fest
Nine trainer f-bombs were dropped during the Season 8 premiere's first- and last-chance workouts. Jillian, of course, had eight of them, and that's only what made the final cut. One reader told That's Fit, "I watched it once this season, but quickly decided that I didn't want to listen to all of the cursing." Perhaps this is why Week 2 .
Dave Bjerke, NBC
Weighty Matters
Bob had Rebecca's heart rate soaring and ego plummeting as he yelled, "Jump Rebecca. How much do you weigh Rebecca? 279 pounds, Rebecca." Is humiliation necessary?
Chris Haston, NBC
Meanness as a Motivator
After 479-pound Shay (right) collapsed off the climbing wall, Jillian yelled, "Shay, get the f*** up!" -- bringing Shay to tears and a short-lived exit out of the gym. Jillian didn't run after her, and ultimately the confrontation strengthened Shay's motivation to return and work harder. But did the swearing garner the result?
Dave Bjerke, NBC
Bob Drops Bombs
When Joelle cut her 30-second team treadmill sprint intervals into a 20-second effort, Bob snapped. He confronted her, screaming curses scattered throughout the message that she wasn't giving it her all, she needed to just do it. We counted 10 f-bombs. Joelle did sprint the full 30 seconds, but young viewers heard an earful.
Trae Patton, NBC
Jillian's Low Blow
Remember when Jillian called Laura the weakest team member? Not only did Jillian embarrass Laura in front of her team by calling her out, she went on to put the entire team on the spot and asked their opinion of Laura, too.
Trae Patton, NBC
Post-Binge Blow Up
After Season 7's Black team turned their day of luxury into a 15,000-plus calorie binge over steaks, drinks, smokes and late night chicken strips, Jillian hit a new level of mad. "The second you leave you smoke? You get wasted?" stormed Jillian. "What the [expletive] am I here for? Why should I care if you don't care?" (Well, she had a valid point here.)
Trae Patton, NBC
Check out the video below to see Bob's Season 7 rant on Joelle, which made our list.
You can also watch Jillian go ballistic on Shay this season in the gym, with hilarious commentary from our friends over at the "The Dish."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 34)
kIA 9-29-2009 @ 2:15PM
Supposedly they are in this to "help" obese people. But, the profanity and lack of compassion is really unclassy, and tacky. Not to mention, downright mean!! I guess that is what they think fat people need, more cruelty? They may initially lose weight because of the bullying, but do most that are on that program sustain the weight loss over a long period of time? I don't think so..why? Because they are doing it way too extreme, and they are just bullied, and peer pressured into losing weight. If you want to help people get off TV and the "sensationalistic after the ratings" way of life, and get real! You may want to try and be compassionate and kind too, just a thought...
Reply
Johnna2888 9-29-2009 @ 2:29PM
people need that push.....because if sopmeone stopped exercising every 20 seconds after they started and they didnt yell at them and push them they wouldnt continue to exercise!!! If you speek nicely and say mayve next time,.theyll never do what they have to do.....when ur overweight you need that push, you need that person yelling in your face!!!
Steph 9-29-2009 @ 2:30PM
Are you serious?? Give me a break!! The people that go on that show to lose weight should already know what to expect. At least from Jillian because she is the same way every season. Do you think these people are gonna lose weight by being babied and felt sorry for?? NO!! If anyone hasn't noticed, the trainers do get emotional with them and talk to them like real people, outside of the gym. You have to get hard-nosed in the gym to get people to work harder. If it includes profanity, so be it!!
tommy 9-29-2009 @ 2:40PM
Obese people don't need to have people be cruel to them and if helping them gain their lives back means swearing at them so be it. Obviously TLC and lots of food hasn't helped them. They watch the show like u and I do and no that it is no picnic. So, Pleqase stop the profiling and get real.
Gordon 9-29-2009 @ 2:44PM
It is OK to push someone without abuse. Even the Marines have relented and stopped with physical and verbal abuse. Humiliation has never been and never will be an effective tool.
marko 9-29-2009 @ 2:48PM
Like it or not this is what works.The easier softer way didn't work for these guys and the trainers know how to make it happen,the cursing is part of it .I used to curse in the gym to make myself go further.I would love to have beautiful Jillian doing it for me.I am not stupid enough to think its personal
TRACY 9-29-2009 @ 3:19PM
THIS IS THE THING....
Those people have already been through enough. They are the most compassionate group of people I have ever seen on t.v !
I was moved by the way they care for each other.
: )
They need positive support not demeaning profanity.
mike 9-29-2009 @ 3:01PM
welcome to the sisification of america! nobody wins or loses anymore, that would hurt somebody's feelings! lets not even keep score! everyone gets a ribbon! yeah! let's all run around, play nice, giggle til our little tummy hurts! or we can wake the F*%$ up! every season this show starts out harsh! doesn't mean these people don't care. they have helped how many people again? these people need motivation! i guess when they quit, bob and jillian should pat them on the shoulder and say nice try. how do you think these people got that way? they have been putting it off and making up excuses as to how or why they got this way and you think that they should let em continue to do it their way? THEIR WAY GOT EM ON THE SHOW! as the season progresses, they work on the inside stuff. right now it's about getting them off their big behinds! p.s. please don't send anyone from your family to serve in our military to defend your freedom, i wouldn't want them to get yelled at? they don't shoot flowers either
peacedl 9-29-2009 @ 3:15PM
Bring Kim Lyons back!!!!
Paul 9-29-2009 @ 3:34PM
The truth is that reality shows are not reality. They are scripted, setup events. The more stupid and annoying a "contestant" on these show acts, the more ratings, the more money for the network, the more they are going to have a**holes on their shows. Bob used to be the caring trainer on this show, but Jillian was getting more attention for being a B**CH, so Bob is now an A**HOLE and getting equal time. The Show, The Network, and The Trainers don't give a crap about these people. Remember that we now have 2 murders who have been contestants on a Reality Show, and one show had a contestant with an active warrant for his arrest. If you apply for and get on one of these shows and don't think you will be humiliated, tortured, and spit on, you need to wake up.
sally 9-29-2009 @ 3:37PM
I used to watch faithfully and am not watching this season now. it is offensive and it used to be inspirational.
MICHELE 9-29-2009 @ 3:47PM
I totally agree with you. It's humiliating enough being a 'fluffy' person and on national TV with millions of people watching you. Then to have them "F"ing you and think it's okay and you have to take it....NOT. I think they both should apologize to the contestants on national TV.
Every human being deserves dignity and respect, skinny, fluffy, black or white. It's embarassing enough to have to wear spandex on national TV....ya know.
Tegus2 9-29-2009 @ 3:48PM
What a suprise! More fat people whining about losing weight. I have little feelings for people who have a health condition and can't help but to be fat.Half of them probly just use that as en excuse to be a lazy pile of lard. Fat parents lead to fat kids. I hate seeing fat parents sitting in fast food joint stuffing there fat faces and there 150 ten year old is doing the same thing. Teach your kids to eat right fat people, don't make the same mistake your parents made.
jessica 9-29-2009 @ 11:47PM
oh shut up....her fat behind was cursing too and as big as she is it clearly shows nobody has ever pushed her she was more than capable of getting it done nobody said it was going to be easy and when did we get so sensitive to profanity we are all adults and u wanna talk about compassion the biggest loser is about change and a commitment to be healthy being stern and taking no bs is what it is about what he did helped her she'll be thanking him in the end when she can run 2 miles without stopping...no excuses
ellen 9-29-2009 @ 4:15PM
You people who agree that they are too harsh should go on the show for a week! If these people wanted to sit on their ass they shouldn't have applied for the show. They don't know how lucky they are to have been chosen for the show. Someone who wanted to work hard could have had that very exclusive spot.The people they are hardest on are to ones who succeed and end up thanking them in the end.
Patty 9-29-2009 @ 4:14PM
I thought the trainers went too far. No one would continue with trainers that treated them like they are doing this year if they were paying for the trainer instead of trying to win the money. There is no reason to curse anyone. Let's show some respect.
billie 9-29-2009 @ 4:21PM
you must didnt watch that season that lady wasnt trying and she was wasting time someone else who really wanted the help could have been on the show she was just lazy and stupid maybe you need to watch the season before you post an opinion
Janet Schmitz 9-29-2009 @ 4:19PM
I agree that this season the lalnguage has been horrific....I am not a young person so the language that is acceptable to the younger generations is offensive to me....I turned off the sound...I also think that humiliating the contestants is not helpful....they have spent years being humiliated by their weight....Sometimes people will motivate themselves if you say "are you satisfied with youor effort? If they are....then back off.....As I mentioned, I am an older person...the language and the coarsening of our cultuire is evident everywhere we look...perhaps a show like yours could try to elevate the acceptable behavior..."the culture goes as its women go"..a truism....the women in this country are out of control with language, dress and behavior...never has sexuality been so blatant in the general population as it is now...from an old fogie from the 1950's...it was wonderful being respected and having someone say "excuse me" when profanity was used in mixed company!
JAYSON 9-29-2009 @ 4:30PM
Hello everyone, you got to be kidding me, those who haven't been over weight, shouldn't comment. I have served in the Army, I to had conduct Physical Fitness to Soldiers. Soldiers who were over weight always seem to find a way to quit on them selve and not try to stay in any form of shape. Fat people do tend to be lazy and quit when things seem to get hard. It is not all of them, but a quite a few. They are on a show and are competing for money. They need to suck it up and go with the flow. Bob and Jillian do get involved with their work and their comitments. so should the compettitors.
cj 9-29-2009 @ 4:52PM
i love to watch the biggest loser, and yes it is inspiring, but at the same time they have thrown the f bomb out there alot in the last couple of episodes. i can't stop watching though, those people are there for one reason and they knew what they were getting into. sometimes the trainers do go alittle far, but it seems they are dead on with the tactics.