Oprah Winfrey recently opened up about her ongoing battle with weight and the public scrutiny she has faced over the years. During a candid conversation on the inaugural episode of Jamie Kern Lima’s podcast, The Jamie Kern Lima Show
, Oprah shared some deeply emotional reflections.
Reflecting on a pivotal moment in 1988, Oprah remembers the heart-wrenching experience of bringing out a wagon full of fat to illustrate her weight loss journey on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She revealed, I didn’t have a morsel of food for five solid months in losing that weight on [the all-liquid diet] Optifast
, but the aftermath was devastating. Three days later, I was 5 lbs. heavier, and a week later I was 10 lbs. heavier
.
Winfrey also shared how social events became sources of anxiety and shame due to her fluctuating weight. She recounted an invite from Don Johnson, known for his role in Miami Vice, during the holiday season, but opted out because she felt too embarrassed about her weight. I’d gone from 145 [lbs.] on the day of the show… I think I was 157 [lbs.] in the course of, like, a week and a half or two. And the shame started again
.
Enduring Public Ridicule
The media’s relentless focus on Oprah’s weight turned into what she described as a national sport, with countless instances where her self-esteem took severe hits. One particularly painful memory involved the sketch comedy show In Living Color. Recalling one specific skit, she said, In Living Color had done a skit where the woman was doing something, and she just kept eating and getting fatter and fatter and fatter and the comedy bit was that eventually she just exploded
. The sketch featured Kim Wayans portraying Oprah.
The whole audience fell out [laughing] and the woman was me.
This type of portrayal significantly affected Oprah’s self-image over time.
A New Chapter
As she approaches this new decade of her life, Oprah is determined to leave these painful experiences behind. She emphatically stated, I just recently turned 70 and I’m not carrying it into the next decade… I’m done with it.
Her conversation with Jamie Kern Lima also aligns with the themes explored in Lima’s latest book WORTHY. Aimed at combating self-doubt and advocating for self-worth, Lima’s work resonates deeply with Oprah’s journey.
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