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13 Celebrities Who Have Spoken Out About Taking GLP-1s
Secrecy, shame, and stigma once surrounded GLP-1 medications, but that is starting to change. In fact, many celebrities have gone public about their experience taking them. Called GLP-1 (or glucagon-like peptide 1) drugs, the buzzy weight loss and diabetes drugs include semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) and the dual GLP-1/GIP dual agonist tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound).
“There’s definitely a shift happening, and that shame is beginning to go away,” says Angela Fitch, MD, current president of the Obesity Medicine Association and chief medical officer of Knownwell.
The rise of GLP-1 drugs has helped the public become more aware of the real causes of obesity and being overweight — it's not simply a lack of willpower. “Instead of thinking of obesity as a choice, people are beginning to realize it’s a chronic disease that contributes to a host of other chronic conditions,” says Dr. Fitch. And though GLP-1s aren't perfect (they come with side effects), they can also help with those conditions related to obesity, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. “The more people who talk about using these drugs, the more the conversation is normalized, and it makes other people with similar struggles feel they are not alone,” says says Tina Marinaccio, RDN, a Denville, New Jersey–based registered dietitian who is certified in weight management from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Here are 13 famous faces who have spoken out about GLP-1 drugs.
GLP-1s aren't just for the stars. Explore our recommendations for the best ways to buy weight loss medications online.
1725
Oprah Winfrey
In March 2024, Winfrey hosted a prime-time show on ABC titled An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution, where she talked about all things GLP-1. “In my entire life, I never dreamed that we would be talking about medicines that are providing hope for people like me who have struggled for years with being overweight or with obesity,” she told People magazine. Not only did Winfrey open up about her own journey, but she also started a conversation about why there’s so much judgment around taking these medications, in an effort to normalize their use. “So I come to this conversation in the hope that we can start releasing the stigma and the shame and the judgment ... to stop shaming other people for being overweight or how they chose to lose and not lose weight,” said Winfrey.
1726
Rebel Wilson
The star of Pitch Perfect and The Hustle shared that she used Ozempic for a period of time to maintain the weight loss she experienced when she made 2020 the “Year of Health” and lost 77 pounds. “Someone like me could have a bottomless appetite for sweets, so I think those drugs can be good,” she said in an interview with The Times. However, Wilson added that she no longer uses GLP-1s. “I feel strongly that young women shouldn’t try to obsess over looking like Victoria’s Secret models — they should just look like themselves. … I know that my relationship with food is complicated.”
1727
Anthony Anderson
The former Grown-ish star lives with type 2 diabetes and actually became a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk’s “Get Real About Diabetes” campaign back in 2017. (Novo Nordisk is the pharmaceutical company behind Ozempic and Wegovy.) When there were major shortages of the GLP-1 drug for people with type 2 diabetes in 2023, Anderson spoke out against those using the drug to simply try and shed a few pounds, saying in a People interview, “Hopefully this trend will stop.” He went on to say, “I will say this, it's creating a shortage for those of us who need the medicine that we need and not for weight loss issues, but for our health.”
1728
Whoopi Goldberg
After Winfrey’s special aired, Goldberg revealed to her cohosts on The View that she took Mounjaro to lose a significant amount of weight. “I will tell you, I weighed almost 300 pounds when I made [the 2022 film] Till. I had taken all those steroids, I was on all this stuff, and one of the things that’s helped me drop the weight was the Mounjaro. That’s what I used.” Goldberg also discussed how all the constant chatter around people’s appearances can be harmful — and how everyone should be nicer to themselves, and others. “Maybe the key is to stop judging everybody. Maybe that’s the key,” she said.
1729
Sunny Hostin
Hostin, Goldberg’s cohost on The View, shared her own experience taking a GLP-1 on that same episode. “During COVID, I gained 40 pounds. All I did was eat. ... I love to cook, and I found out, I love to eat. And I was horrified about the fact that I would have to come out on air. So I also took Mounjaro,” said Hostin, according to People. In addition to losing the weight, Hostin wanted to get her cholesterol numbers under control. “I found that my cholesterol went up to 200 when I gained the extra weight. And I use Mounjaro and my cholesterol is 140 now. I feel better, I think I look better, and that’s what this is about for people.”
1730
Charles Barkley
The former professional basketball star said he lost around 60 pounds by taking Mounjaro, in addition to maintaining a healthy diet and exercise. “It's been great, I'm starting to feel like a human being.” Barkley candidly revealed on the talk show The Pat McAfee Show, according to a post on the social platform X. Describing his experience, he said, “It's been amazing,” and added that his ultimate goal is to live longer. “I started at 352, and I’m down to 290,” with an ultimate goal of 270, he said, according to Yahoo! Life.
1731
Claudia Oshry
For Oshry, a comedian, cohost of the podcast The Toast, and creator of the popular Instagram account @girlwithnojob, taking a GLP-1 was a no-brainer. She told listeners on her podcast, “You thought they were going to make a weight loss drug and I wasn't going to take it?” At first, it wasn’t so easy for Oshry to discuss using the medication — she didn’t feel comfortable admitting she was on it. Now, she’s candidly talking about going off the drug and sharing her new struggles. “I'm always looking for good treats cause I'm still trying to lose weight but on my own,” she said in a TikTok video.
1732
Lauren Manzo
Manzo, daughter of Real Housewives of New Jersey alumni Caroline Manzo, announced she lost 50 pounds from following a gluten- and dairy-free diet, and another 30 pounds by taking Mounjaro. Manzo was motivated to lose weight because her weight of 280 pounds took a toll on her mental health. At first, Manzo received public pushback, but, as she explained on Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea podcast, “I get it — people don't like it, people don't applaud it, people aren't whatever, but it's a shot in your stomach once a week, it's the same as Ozempic. ... You guys have seen the struggle with this since I'm 20 years old, and it's been really hard for me.”
1733
Elon Musk
When one fan asked the Tesla and SpaceX entrepreneur in October 2022 on X, “What’s your secret? You look awesome, fit, ripped, and healthy. Lifting weights? Eating healthy?” Musk credited fasting and Wegovy, according to Business Insider. Musk also shared that he’s down 30 pounds, and his other strategy is “no tasty food near me.” When Musk first made his announcement, it caused a spiral of press for GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes medications, as Musk was one of the first celebrities to speak openly about using the medication.
1734
Rosie O’Donnell
The actor and comedian first revealed on TikTok that she shed 10 pounds on Mounjaro, and then followed it up with another post about how she lost 15 pounds on the lowest dose. Although her weight loss plateaued, O’Donnell’s doctor told her that what matters is that her A1C is going down. A1C is a measurement of the average of your blood sugar levels over the past three months. She has since been on Mounjaro for one year, according to an Instagram post.
1735
Tracy Morgan
The comedian and former star of The Last O.G. made headlines when he shared on Today last year that he was taking Ozempic. “That’s how this weight got lost. … I went and got a prescription and I got Ozempic. I'm not letting it go,” he said. Morgan has continued to praise the drug, saying, “Ozempic did great by me and I was glad to use it. I take Ozempic every Thursday,” according to E! News. “It cuts my appetite in half.”
1736
Chelsea Handler
Surprisingly, the comedian didn’t actually know she was taking Ozempic when she first received a prescription, she said in an interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast. “My anti-aging doctor just hands it out to anybody,” Handler said. “I didn't even know I was on it.” Apparently, that doctor suggested she take it “if you ever want to drop five pounds.” Handler later realized she was on the medication when she told a friend she was taking semaglutide, and her friend said that that was Ozempic. Since then, Handler has stopped taking the medication.
1737
Amy Schumer
Schumer admittedly didn't have a good experience on Ozempic. On the talk show Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, the comedian and actor shared, “Like a year ago, I tried it. I was one of those people that felt so sick and couldn’t play with my son. I was so skinny and he’s throwing a ball at me and [I couldn’t],” People reported. She still kept taking the medication but knew it wasn’t right for her. “And you’re like, ‘Okay, this isn’t livable for me.’ But I immediately invested [in it] because I knew everyone was going to try it.” she added. Eventually, she came off the medication and now talks candidly about her experience and also criticizes others in Hollywood for not being honest about their own GLP-1 use.
The Takeaway
- The stigma surrounding GLP-1 medications is starting to shift as more public figures speak publicly about their experiences.
- Celebrities who have taken semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) have experienced both health benefits and difficulties on the trendy drugs.
- GLP-1 drugs, once considered a Hollywood fad, may be becoming an increasingly standard option for people who are overweight or obese.
Meet Our Experts
Adam Gilden, MD, MSCE
Medical Reviewer
Adam Gilden, MD, MSCE, is an associate director of the Obesity Medicine Fellowship at University of Colorado School of Medicine and associate director of the Colorado University Medicine Weight Management and Wellness Clinic in Aurora. Dr. Gilden works in a multidisciplinary academic center with other physicians, nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, and a psychologist, and collaborates closely with bariatric surgeons.
Gilden is very involved in education in obesity medicine, lecturing in one of the obesity medicine board review courses and serving as the lead author on the Annals of Internal Medicine article "In the Clinic" on obesity.
He lives in Denver, where he enjoys spending time with family, and playing tennis.
Leslie Barrie
Author
Leslie Barrie is a health and nutrition writer and editor who loves running marathons and attempting to cook healthy meals for her family (even if they don’t always turn out as planned). She received her bachelor of science degree at UCLA and her master of science degree at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She has written and edited for publications like Health magazine, Seventeen, and Woman’s Day. Leslie won a Hearst Spotlight Award for her work in 2018 at Woman’s Day, and helped plan the Woman’s Day Red Dress Awards, an event honoring changemakers fighting to end heart disease in women.
When she isn’t writing, Leslie loves chasing her daughter and son around outside, going on family hikes, and starting her day with a big bowl of muesli.