Earlier this year, “The Biggest Loser” came under fire when former contestants made allegations that the show pressured them to use drugs and forgo water in their televised quest to lose weight. Now, the first female winner of the weight loss competition is addressing those claims, and, as far as she’s concerned, it didn’t happen.
As Ali Vincent tells “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” in this weekend’s upcoming interview, neither encouragement of drug use nor the pressure to avoid water occurred during her season ― and she has trouble believing these things occurred during any other seasons, either.
“I find it highly unlikely that it was allowed and that it was recommended,” Vincent says. “Nobody can force anybody to do anything on ‘The Biggest Loser.’ Period. End of story.”
The contestants on the show, regardless of season, always have control over what they do and don’t do, she continues. “Yes, you’re in this sequestered situation, but you are making your own choices to do that,” Vincent says.
Vincent won “The Biggest Loser” eight years ago. Two of the former contestants making accusations appeared in seasons prior to that. “Why didn’t you say something then?” she wonders.
For the most part, Vincent believes that “Biggest Loser” participants value their time on the show, and that those making these accusations are outliers.
“I’m sorry that they had bad experiences, but I know that they do not speak for the majority of us,” she says. “I think that everybody finds it a positive experience in their life.”
“Oprah: Where Are They Now?” airs Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET on OWN. You can also catch full episodes on demand via the Watch OWN app.
Another update from Ali Vincent:
Related
Before You Go
