Oprah Winfrey will be stepping down from her role on the WeightWatchers’ board of directors after admitting to using weight loss medication.
Winfrey also announced she will be donating her interest to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC.)
“Oprah has been an inspiring presence and passionate advocate for our members, providing critical insights and counsel that has helped shape WeightWatchers over these last 8 years. On 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,” said Thilo Semmelbauer, Chairman of the Board, in a statement published on their website.
In December, the media maven told People magazine that she incorporated GLP-1 drugs into her existing “holistic approach” of “regular exercise and other lifestyle tweaks.”
“I eat my last meal at 4 o’clock, drink a gallon of water a day, and use the WeightWatchers principles of counting points. I had an awareness of [weight-loss] medications, but felt I had to prove I had the willpower to do it. I now no longer feel that way,” Winfrey told the publication at the time. “I was actually recommending it to people long before I was on it myself.”
The admission was viewed as a conflict of interest and company stock value continued to plummet.
Winfrey served on the board for nearly a decade after becoming a board member and a public face for WeightWatchers in 2015 and became a 10% shareholder. Her 1.13 million shares, which she is gifting to the NMAAHC, are worth $6.34 million as of Jan. 1, per LSEG data.
Despite stepping down from her role, Winfrey declares she will continue to work closely with the weight-loss brand.
“I look forward to continuing to advise and collaborate with WeightWatchers and CEO Sima Sistani in elevating the conversation around recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, working to reduce stigma, and advocating for health equity,” she said in her official statement.
“Weight Health is a critically important topic and one that needs to be addressed at a broader scale. I plan to participate in a number of public forums and events where I will be a vocal advocate in advancing this conversation,” continued Winfrey. “In addition, I have decided to donate my interest in WeightWatchers to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (“NMAAHC”). I have been a long-time supporter of this worthy organization, and I am proud to continue my support.”
Since the pandemic, WW has fought hard to counteract a decline in membership during the pandemic. Last year, the company announced the acquisition of telehealth startup Sequence, giving members access to anti-obesity medication.
