{"id":1309,"date":"2024-02-29T20:30:50","date_gmt":"2024-02-29T20:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/?p=1309"},"modified":"2024-02-29T20:30:50","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T20:30:50","slug":"oprah-winfrey-parting-ways-with-weight-watchers-after-making-a-major-confession-stocks-plummet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/?p=1309","title":{"rendered":"Oprah Winfrey parting ways with Weight Watchers after making a major confession \u2014 stocks plummet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>For years, Oprah Winfrey has been a prominent spokesperson and board executive for the weight-loss company Weight Watchers \u2014 but her partnership with the company is now ending after a major recent admission.<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"311fe198f191a864c1efcdfa9efedfdf\" data-index=\"3\" style=\"float: none; margin:0px 0 0px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1782571\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The 70-year-old media mogul and and talk show host acquired a 10% stake in Weight Watchers, now renamed WW, in 2015, becoming its spokesperson and joining the board of directors.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-dd4db87e32c3081c6d6a9b04ec830066\" class=\"newsner-dd4db87e32c3081c6d6a9b04ec830066 newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"newsner-460433117\" class=\"newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"bb-iawr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb_iawr\">\n<div id=\"bb-wr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb-media bb_wrapper bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\" data-flags=\"{}\" data-softembargoremainingtime=\"0\" data-sid=\"F7Ls5JXUVyua\" data-isready=\"true\" data-autoplaynextremainingtime=\"0\">\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-content-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\">Oprah helped boost the company\u2019s profile and sent stocks immediately soaring. For years, viewers have seen Oprah promote the company in commercials, promising that weight loss was possible (without even giving up bread!)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-8002588e4f2294c22a3799329b2731a4\" class=\"newsner-8002588e4f2294c22a3799329b2731a4 newsner-incide_content_once\">\n<div id=\"newsner-1716491156\" class=\"newsner-incide_content_once\">\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article-thumbnails\" class=\" trc_related_container trc_spotlight_widget trc_elastic trc_elastic_thumbnails-mid \" data-placement-name=\"Mid Article Thumbnails\">\n<div class=\"trc_rbox_container\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"trc_wrapper_66414\" class=\"trc_rbox thumbnails-mid trc-content-sponsored \">\n<div id=\"outer_66414\" class=\"trc_rbox_outer\">\n<div id=\"rbox-t2m\" class=\"trc_rbox_div trc_rbox_border_elm\">\n<div id=\"internal_trc_66414\">\n<div class=\"videoCube trc_spotlight_item origin-default thumbnail_top syndicatedItem textItem videoCube_1_child trc-first-recommendation trc-spotlight-first-recommendation  trc_excludable \" data-item-id=\"~~V1~~-7167935607437599139~~zhgsPcmzR5sjpjLHxlCzAAg1eWpg1Y88hbYmRlL8z599_9IWyVTZYEw3zPc60dwzHu_TYvngZ3fIkOCpr71_kAqE0_yL1hRu0U20mv8_l17DRZJkUa90lhbR-A55NYZZN2xMhMzqEGklt4ZsI2ItodaJcdPrpS1Q7G9KdNdfaXQ8AcG1c6seag0AI_rH09A5RciOyCkqT0Kz6ww4w03d1g\" data-item-title=\"Most Computer Owners Don&amp;#39;t Know This. Do It Today!\" data-item-thumb=\"http:\/\/cdn.taboola.com\/libtrc\/static\/thumbnails\/bbd3ea2a3deb46e5998cba5a80cf3182.jpg\" data-item-syndicated=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_clearer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Oprah Original Bread Commercial - Weightwatchers\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pxNYHoc4HDo?feature=oembed\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>But the high-profile partnership between Oprah and WW is coming to an end after nearly a decade \u2014 after Oprah revealed her weight loss journey involved more than diet control.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-4c043242df6fdc1a5ae87900e1e77da5\" class=\"newsner-4c043242df6fdc1a5ae87900e1e77da5 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oprah: uses weight-loss medication<\/h2>\n<p>In December,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/oprah-winfrey-reveals-weight-loss-medication-exclusive-8414552\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Oprah told People<\/a>\u00a0that she has used an unspecified weight loss drug. \u201cI realized I\u2019d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control,\u201d she told the outlet. \u201cObesity is a disease. It\u2019s not about willpower \u2014 it\u2019s about the brain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said that she \u201creleased her own shame\u201d about weight-loss medication and her doctor wrote her a prescription.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-33\">\u201cI now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing,\u201d she told People. \u201cThe fact that there\u2019s 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. I\u2019m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146050 lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190201\/shutterstock_2382547331.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"667\" height=\"1000\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190201\/shutterstock_2382547331.jpg\" data-eio-rwidth=\"667\" data-eio-rheight=\"1000\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kathy Hutchins \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The revelation comes as prescription anti-obesity medications like Ozempic have been gaining popularity and widespread use.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-4b034e99d7b3a4a38475a7e664432d08\" class=\"newsner-4b034e99d7b3a4a38475a7e664432d08 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>Oprah\u2019s admission was met with mixed reaction from fans: some praised her for her candidness about the topic, while others said she was a hypocrite after years of promoting diet programs. (Oprah told People that she still used the Weight Watchers point system in her daily weight regimen.)<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-parting-ways-with-weight-watchers\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Parting ways with Weight Watchers<\/h2>\n<p>Two months after this announcement, Oprah announced she was stepping away from Weight Watchers. In a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.ww.com\/news\/news-details\/2024\/WW-International-Inc.-Announces-Upcoming-Oprah-Winfrey-Board-Transition\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">company release<\/a>, WW announced that Oprah would not stand for re-election to their Board of Directors, and would also be donating her shares to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.<\/p>\n<p>According to the release, the Board of Directors of Weight Watchers is \u201csupportive\u201d of her decision to donate the shares, and that Oprah would continue to \u201cadvise and collaborate\u201d with the company, and she would host events on weight health.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146052 lazyautosizes lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190542\/shutterstock_331412885.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, 664px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190542\/shutterstock_331412885.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190542\/shutterstock_331412885-768x512.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190542\/shutterstock_331412885.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190542\/shutterstock_331412885.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190542\/shutterstock_331412885-768x512.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"1000\" data-eio-rheight=\"667\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ken Wolter \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWeight health is a critically important topic and one that needs to be addressed at a broader scale,\u201d Oprah said in a statement. \u201cI plan to participate in a number of public forums and events where I will be a vocal advocate in advancing this conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-6577c88c474f84c3a1b70813fe8c07a8\" class=\"newsner-6577c88c474f84c3a1b70813fe8c07a8 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201cOprah has been an inspiring presence and passionate advocate for our members, providing critical insights and counsel that has helped shape Weight Watchers over these last 8 years,\u201d said Thilo Semmelbauer, Chairman of the Board. \u201cOn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146053 lazyautosizes lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190731\/GettyImages-1933769010.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, 664px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190731\/GettyImages-1933769010.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190731\/GettyImages-1933769010-768x530.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"706\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190731\/GettyImages-1933769010.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190731\/GettyImages-1933769010.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/02\/29190731\/GettyImages-1933769010-768x530.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"1024\" data-eio-rheight=\"706\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA \u2013 JANUARY 14: Oprah Winfrey speaks onstage during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter\/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stocks plummet<\/h2>\n<p>But Oprah\u2019s departure from the board had immediate ramifications for the company: according to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/02\/29\/investing\/oprah-winfrey-weightwatchers-stock-plunge\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CNN Business<\/a>, Weight Watchers shares plunged 25% Thursday and are down nearly 70%.<\/p>\n<p>It marks a delicate moment for the company, which has had to adjust to a shifting weight loss culture and increased competition from drugs like Ozempic \u2014 and will now have to do without its most famous spokesperson.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Oprah has been such a prominent spokesperson for Weight Watchers over the years that this feels like the end of an era, but it\u2019s also important for people to be honest about their weight loss journeys.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-6a5e179632a6d7c2eedcf4822054691e\" class=\"newsner-6a5e179632a6d7c2eedcf4822054691e newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>What do you think of this news? Share this story with your thoughts!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For years, Oprah Winfrey has been a prominent spokesperson and board executive for the weight-loss company Weight Watchers \u2014 but her partnership with the company is now&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1309","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1309"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1311,"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1309\/revisions\/1311"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findpath.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}