Comedian Rosie O’Donnell launched a scathing public attack against Jay Leno on Tuesday, August 20, 2025, following her viewing of Netflix’s new docuseries about “The Biggest Loser.” The 63-year-old actress took to Instagram to condemn the 75-year-old former late-night host’s treatment of reality show contestants, calling him “a mean a–hole” in response to disturbing footage featured in the documentary.
The controversy stems from archival footage included in “Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser,” which premiered on Netflix on August 15, 2025. The three-part docuseries examines the dark side of the weight-loss competition show that aired from 2004 to 2016 on NBC, followed by a single season on USA Network in 2020.
The specific incident that triggered O’Donnell’s outrage occurred during a 2009 appearance by “Biggest Loser” Season 8 contestant Tracey Yukich on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” During the broadcast, Leno read aloud death threats that viewers had submitted to the show targeting Yukich. One threatening message stated that the sender would not step on the brake if they saw Yukich cross the street and might even accelerate. Another viewer described Yukich as “just pure evil.”
Leno responded to the threats on air by telling Yukich that one viewer wanted to kill her but would not use profanity. In the documentary, Yukich recalled the traumatic experience through tears, explaining that she did not realize she was portrayed as a villain until the show aired. She expressed how deeply hurt she felt by the experience and the public reading of the threatening messages.
O’Donnell shared screenshots from both the docuseries and Leno’s show on her Instagram account, accompanying the images with her harsh criticism of the former Tonight Show host. The post generated significant support from her followers, with many agreeing that Leno’s actions were inappropriate and cruel.
The comedian did not limit her criticism to Leno alone. In a separate Instagram post on the same day, O’Donnell targeted former “Biggest Loser” trainer Bob Harper, expressing frustration that he had not apologized for his treatment of contestants. She questioned why Harper could not simply say he was sorry, describing his behavior on the show as hurtful and cruel.
Harper, who appeared in the Netflix documentary, defended his actions during his time on the reality competition. The 60-year-old trainer acknowledged that there were moments he was not proud of, including an incident where he screamed at Season 7 contestant Joelle Gwynn. However, Harper maintained that he would stand behind everything he did on the show and insisted he never put anyone in harm’s way.
In the documentary, Harper explained that the show’s producers prioritized creating entertaining television over focusing solely on health and wellness. He noted that while diet is more important for weight loss, it makes for boring television, whereas dramatic gym sessions with yelling and screaming captured audience attention. Harper revealed that producers encouraged extreme behavior, wanting contestants to experience physical distress for dramatic effect.
Yukich’s experience extended beyond the humiliating television appearance. In the docuseries, she detailed a medical emergency during the show’s first challenge where she nearly died from rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscle tissue breaks down and releases proteins into the bloodstream that can damage organs. She described feeling like she was floating and seeing both darkness and light during the incident, which required helicopter evacuation.
The Netflix documentary has sparked widespread controversy since its release, with former contestants detailing alleged abuse and dangerous practices during production. The series reveals that contestants engaged in extreme behaviors to lose weight, including fasting for 10 days and surviving on minimal calories while maintaining intense exercise regimens to compete for the $250,000 prize.
Former trainer Jillian Michaels, who did not participate in the documentary, has threatened legal action against Netflix over claims made in the series. Michaels disputed several allegations, including accusations about caffeine supplement use and Harper’s statement that she never reached out after his 2017 heart attack.
Representatives for both Leno and Harper have not responded to requests for comment regarding O’Donnell’s public criticism. The controversy continues to generate discussion about the ethics of reality television production and the treatment of participants in weight-loss programming.
