Oprah Winfrey will leave the board of WeightWatchers after almost 10 years, following the entertainment mogul’s revelation that she is using a weight-loss drug.
Winfrey informed the company this week that she decided to not stand for reelection at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in May 2024. She has served on the company’s board since 2015 when she acquired a 10% stake in WeightWatchers.
“I look forward to continuing to advise and collaborate with WeightWatchers and CEO Sima Sistani in elevating the conversation around recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, working to reduce stigma, and advocating for health equity,” Winfrey said in a statement.
In December 2023, Winfrey told People she had decided to start taking a weight-loss medication (which she did not identify) after coming to the realization that weight management does not hinge solely on a person’s self-control. “The fact that there’s a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for,” she told People.
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Winfrey’s agreement with WeightWatchers specifies that she “will not engage in any other weight loss or weight management business, program, products or services” during the term of her relationship with the company and for one year afterward, according to the company’s filings with the SEC.
After the disclosure that Winfrey will leave WeightWatchers’ board, shares of WW International fell more than 20% Friday. With her departure, the company’s board will be reduced from 10 members to nine.
On Feb. 26, Winfrey notified Weight Watchers that she would not be standing forre-electionas a member of the board at the company’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders, per an SEC filing Thursday. According to the company, “Her decision was not the result of any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices.”
Winfrey said she will donate her interest in WeightWatchers to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “I have been a long-time supporter of this worthy organization, and I am proud to continue my support,” she said.
In a statement, the board of directors of WeightWatchers said it is “supportive of Ms. Winfrey’s proposal to donate all of her WW stock to the NMAAHC during the company’s upcoming trading window in March 2024. Ms. Winfrey is making the donation to support the NMAAHC’s goal to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans and to eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight-loss medications. In addition, Ms. Winfrey intends to donate the proceeds from any future exercises of her WW stock options to NMAAHC.”
Winfrey owns about 1.1 million shares of WW International, representing a 1.43% stake in the company, according to data provider FactSet. At the current stock price, that’s worth less than $3.5 million. Her initial investment for 6.4 million shares of the company totaled $43.2 million.
In May 2024, Winfrey and WeightWatchers will host an event on weight health featuring “industry experts coming together to un-shame our relationship with weight,” according to the company. “Weight health is a critically important topic and one that needs to be addressed at a broader scale,” Winfrey said in the statement. “I plan to participate in a number of public forums and events where I will be a vocal advocate in advancing this conversation.”
WW International chairman Thilo Semmelbauer said in a statement, “Oprah has been an inspiring presence and passionate advocate for our members, providing critical insights and counsel that has helped shape WeightWatchers over these last 8 years. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank her for her energy, dedication, and for continuing to play a role as collaborator and thought partner going forward. What I know for sure, we will dearly miss her presence on the board.”
Last year, WeightWatchers acquired Sequence, a telehealth subscription service providing access to healthcare providers who can prescribe weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, for $106 million.
FAQs
Oprah Winfrey is parting ways with Weight Watchers. Two months after revealing she uses a weight-loss medication to slim down, the legendary host announced she's leaving the company's board of directors after nearly 10 years of working with them.
Why did Oprah Winfrey leave WeightWatchers Board? ›
Entertainment mogul and TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey said she decided to exit the board of directors WeightWatchers — after nearly a decade — to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Did WeightWatchers fire Oprah Winfrey? ›
Oprah Winfrey resigned from the WeightWatchers board after almost 10 years to avoid a conflict of interest. During her appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last week, Winfrey explained why she stepped down ahead of her upcoming special, “An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution.”
How did Oprah Winfrey lose all her weight? ›
Weight loss medication isn't the only tool in Oprah's kit: She's also an avid exerciser. During her weight loss special, she told viewers that she hikes three to five miles per day and also does "weight resistance training.” Back in 2017, she told The Hollywood Reporter that she hits her home gym soon after waking up.
Did Oprah Winfrey sell her stock in WeightWatchers? ›
The stock kept soaring, hitting $101 in 2018. Around that time, Winfrey began selling shares. According to Verity, she sold 7.2 million shares between 2018 and 2021, at an average price of $49.60, generating personal proceeds of $286 million.
What medication is Oprah taking to lose weight? ›
These medications include Ozempic and Mounjaro (which are approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, but are also used off-label for weight loss) and Wegovy and Zepbound (which are approved as anti-obesity medications).
Does Oprah take Ozempic? ›
Last December, the former TV host revealed that she had been taking weight-loss medication, although she declined to name which one. At the time, she said that the prevalence of drugs like Ozempic “feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for.”
Is Oprah Winfrey still with WeightWatchers? ›
Oprah Winfrey revealed she left the board of WeightWatchers after nearly a decade because of her upcoming special about prescription weight loss medications.
Why did WeightWatchers get sued? ›
The FTC reached a settlement with WW International, Inc., formerly known as Weight Watchers, and a subsidiary called Kurbo, Inc., over allegations they marketed a weight loss app for use by children as young as eight and then collected their personal information without parental permission.
What weight loss program do doctors recommend? ›
Overall, we found the Mayo Clinic Diet to be an excellent balance of guidance from educational content, meal planning, and establishment of healthy habits, along with the flexibility to adjust your meal and exercise plan according to your preferences and goals.
During an interview with “The View” host Whoopi Goldberg on Monday's “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Clarkson admitted to taking a weight loss drug to lose weight. In January, Clarkson told People magazine that diet and exercise helped her slim down. She made no mention of weight loss drugs.
What is Oprah Winfrey doing now in 2024? ›
In May 2024, Winfrey and WeightWatchers will host an event on weight health featuring “industry experts coming together to un-shame our relationship with weight,” according to the company.
Is Kelly Osbourne on Ozempic? ›
Kelly Osbourne denies taking Ozempic following 85-pound weight loss. Kelly Osbourne denied taking Ozempic after losing 85 pounds following the birth of her son. “I know everybody thinks I took Ozempic,” the “DWTS” alum told Extra. “I did not take Ozempic,” she professed.
Does WeightWatchers offer Ozempic? ›
WeightWatchers says its GLP-1 program that offers weight loss medications like Ozempic and Rybelsus is a paradigm shift in treating obesity. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Watching what you eat, exercising and counting points has been the way customers on WeightWatchers have been shedding pounds for years.
What company did WeightWatchers just buy? ›
WeightWatchers signed an agreement to acquire telehealth platform Weekend Health, also known as Sequence, for $106 million.
Who is the largest shareholder of WeightWatchers? ›
WW International (WW) director Oprah Winfrey will not seek re-election at the company's upcoming annual shareholders' meeting in May. Contrarious Investment Management is the largest shareholder of WW, with ownership of 7.44 million shares.
Why did Oprah step down from WW? ›
Oprah Winfrey stepped down from the board of directors of WW so she could focus on making a TV special about weight loss medications.
Is Oprah Winfrey still affiliated with WeightWatchers? ›
Oprah Winfrey is parting ways with WeightWatchers after nearly 10 years on the company's board of directors.
Why are so many weight Watcher Studios closing? ›
WeightWatchers embracing weight-loss drugs and closing more locations. After decades of emphasizing personal responsibility and behavior change, WeightWatchers is embracing clinical weight loss treatments and is cutting back on the in-person meetings that once defined the company.
What happened to the founder of WeightWatchers? ›
Nidetch, who died in 2015, left behind an inspiring legacy in WW, originally known as Weight Watchers. She based the weight loss meeting concept on her get-togethers with friends who wanted to lose weight in her living room in Queens, N.Y.
