CNN Slammed for Featuring Jillian Michaels After ‘Biggest Loser’ Star’s Controversial Slavery Comments
Viewers who tuned into NewsNight With Abby Phillip on Thursday night (August 14) were unhappy with CNN for featuring former Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels amid President Donald Trump‘s controversial Smithsonian directive.
On Thursday, the Trump administration allegedly sent a letter to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III requesting an internal review of its museums in an effort to remove “improper ideology” from its exhibits. The goal is said to ensure Smithsonian’s exhibits “celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.”
Phillip and her co-hosts discussed the directive on Thursday’s edition of NewsNight, which saw the panel reacting to backlash from various historians and political figures who have argued the government is trying to whitewash American history.
Michaels shot down those criticisms, saying, per The Wrap, “[Trump’s] not whitewashing slavery. He’s not. You cannot tie imperialism and racism and slavery just to one race, which is pretty much what every single [museum] exhibit does.”
The rest of the panel took the fitness trainer to task, with Phillip reminding her that they’re talking about the Smithsonian’s exhibits on American history. “Jillian, I’m surprised that you’re trying to litigate who was the beneficiary of slavery,” she said. “In the context of American history, what are you saying is incorrect by saying that it was white people oppressing Black people?”
Michaels: You cannot tie imperialism and racism and slavery to just one race, which is pretty much what every single exhibit does… Only less than 2% of white Americans own slaves. You realize that slavery is thousands of years old?
Phillip: I’m very surprised you are trying to… pic.twitter.com/KOe9rSAcTV
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 14, 2025
Michaels, who starred on the NBC weight-loss competition series The Biggest Loser on and off from 2004 to 2013, continued to defend her point. “Every single thing is like, ‘Oh, no, no, no, this is all because white people bad,’” she stated. “That’s just not the truth.”
The heated debate, specifically Michaels’ comments, had people talking on social media, with many blasting CNN for featuring someone with no political background or standing.
“Truly humiliating stuff here from @JillianMichaels — and from @CNN for giving nonsense like this air time night after night as our democracy hangs in the balance,” wrote one X user.
“This is what happens when you elevate a run of the mill gym trainer to political pundit,” said another.
“Why is Jillian Michaels on a CNN panel talking about slavery[?] Cable news deserves whatever is coming for it,” another added.
Another wrote, “Jillian Michaels is a fitness instructor. No shade to my gym boos. But outside of being a media “personality,” what credentials does she have to be on CNN talking about politics and cultural issues?”
“It’s not good enough to criticize just Jillian Michaels. Also criticize the networks consciously choosing to platform her and other bigots,” one viewer wrote. “They know what they’re doing and they choose to invite these ppl over qualified experts because attention matters more to them than truth.”
“CNN should never allow Jillian Michaels on any show again. The lies she said about slavery should not be tolerated on a national news show or network,” said another.
“This is what you get when a has-been fitness guru gets platformed on a political talk show. A completely uninformed ignorant opinion that simply wastes time,” added one commenter.
You can watch the segment in the video above and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
CNN NewsNight, Weeknights, 10 pm et, CNN
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I think the previous comments quoted in the article sums it up very well, however, I can add, if you want to be considered a credible news source, then be credible! Having Michael’s on to discuss politics makes CNN the Biggest Loser!
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Jillian is right. No one said slavery wasn't bad, but slavery still exists in the world. All over the world except in one place. The one place it was stopped is white western countries. It still exists in Africa. It still exists in Asia. It still exists in Muslim countries. America is where white people fought a bloody war to stop slavery. It's the only country that did so. The rest of the world had slaves for thousands of years and much still does. Africa, black Africans, caught and sold slaves and still hasn't stopped. It took a new country a little time to buck the world trend of slavery to put an end to it and inspire many of the rest of western (white) countries to do the same. That should be celebrated. While acknowledging that slavery was bad. And still is in the world.
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CNN must stop having intolerant loudmouths using precious airtime. CNN trying to air all viewpoint but it's backfiring.
Abby Phillips is excellent moderator but I Hate the show with these ignorant Trump racists
Attacking and breeding intolerance.
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her statements ARE accurate, bruh. know who the very first slaves were? white people. look it up. and some blacks did benefit from slavery, because it was black people selling their own race into slavery. learn your facts, and stop promoting ideals that aren't true.
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It is concerning that she genuinely believes her statements are accurate. I wonder about her sources of information. I may lack certain insights, but I am confident in saying her percentage figures are inaccurate. 2% might be a plausible figure but does it account for all white individuals who owned, profited and benefited from slavery including the slaves who were provided to others? I may be mistaken, but wasn’t she involved in exploiting, humiliating, and embarrassing individuals on tv for financial gain? This raises questions about her qualifications credibility to engage in an informed discussion.
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So many haters
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Ur right
But tge white Europeans in the height of their empires in the 19th century developed the idea of slaves as inherently inferior. All the conquered lands and people were not white. So came the idea that there was something inherently superior about the white race etc etc
The Romans and others had skaves that looked like them;( defeated enemies, unpaid debt etc et . It was ownership and strength . The idea of being superior to the conquered races ( non whites) was developed by the whites.
Etc etc European America etc until now the racial, racialist racist ideas some believe in
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I think I don’t know enough to comment on this subject. But I believe the biggest loser was the first “reality show.”
Given that and that we as a society watched people being hurt and the cruelty that was exposed took our society in the direction of “The Hunger Games” The biggest loser than survivor. We watch as a society our own being hurt and maimed for pleasure? Are we as a people any better than the Romans? What has happened in history should never be forgotten or excused; but looking towards the future—where are we going?
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It’s easy to see you HATE allot. And extraordinarily ignorant to think and say that people who support Trump are all racists and intolerant of others. The proof of that is just to read your comment.
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So how do you explain how the Zulu tribe in Africa conquered other tribes “ that looked like them” and made slaves of them. You do realize that the Zulus were black people right ? And you seem to be just throwing stuff out to see if it sticks. Slavery existed long before the Roman Empire. Please Explain and Prove your statement that the idea of being superior to conquered races was “developed by the whites” as You claim. And racism is not exclusive to Just white people as you are trying in vain to depict. All races can and Do have racists in them. Sounds very much like your trying to rewrite history to suit your own narrative. A narrative that sounds very racist and bigoted to me.
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Probably the same as Scott jennings who wants his profile out their for FOTUS to endorse him for McConnell seat in KY or the same reason FOX News has Riley Gaines on to talk politics. Really?
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True.
The criticism towards her.
She defends the whites . Fine.
So she s white.
But isn’t she Jewish and therefore Semite?
What the heck?
To me she s white Caucasian whose ancestry converted to Judaism ( nothing wrong with that.
The Semite’s the real Semites are the Arabs and Jews from the Levantine and who look the same.
Never in history in the Levantine had we had indigenous people with blue eyes blind hair white skin.
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You might want to be careful about using the word “Never” with your historical description of indigenous Levantine people. The Holy Bible describes Esau as being hairy with “reddish” hair. David was described as having blond or red hair and Might and I say Might have had blue eyes. Though some believe that was a description of the “ spirit” in his eyes. Also described as being Fair though that might simply mean handsome rather than white skin. Moses had a black wife which his sister Cora complained about very hotly and ugly manner, God took away her ability to speak until Moses prayed for her and God lifted the curse. My point is everything is not just cut and dried when we look at history. Yes and even in modern times people from the Middle East tend to have black or dark brown hair and brown eyes along with a copper colored skin similar to Native Americans and some much darker similar to African Americans, BUT there are people there whose families go back many generations who have blond hair and green eyes or red hair and blue eyes. Not trying to be sarcastic to you just saying it’s not as cut and dried as Everybody there had black hair and brown eyes end of story. Just sayin……
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This woman learned to make faces and rudely-interrupt other guests from …
S Jennings … whose words on and about January 6th … “shameful behavior”. CNN should raise its bar on invited guests.
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