Poll: Jillian Michaels Sued for False Claims
The Biggest Loser loud mouth, Jillian Michaels, has sure been riding the fame train that the popular show has brought her.
Some feel that Jillian is exceeding her qualifications by delving into the world of nutrition and supplements.
Along with a myriad of resources Jillian offers is her newish supplement line. Well, it seems a customer isn't happy with the claims of Jillian's products because a class action lawsuit has been filed in LA.
Christie Christensen of Lake Elsinore, CA claims that the Jillian Michaels' supplement Maximum Strength Calorie Control did not live up to it's advertised claims.
Now I'm sure somewhere on the bottle the fine print says "individual results my vary", but is that good enough when such a high profile fitness personality endorses a product?
Is Jillian Michaels overstepping her qualifications?
33 Comments
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Created / Updated: August 25, 2010
the person bringing the class action lawsuit is an idiot. She said The commercials made it sound like you could take two magic pills a day and eat as much chocolate as you want.
What freaking MORON actually thinks that? Whoever believes that deserves to be fat slobs.
The commercial doesn't say, take two pills and pig out, and I guarantee you on the bottle it states "along with a healthy diet and regular exercise".
This is a baseless lawsuit. My best friend takes these pills along with her normal diet and exercise program and it's helped her lose 10lbs so far.
There's no miracle pill for weight loss... only supplements that help diets along.
ReplyI completely agree with you Mayu.
Christian did you really think you could just take the supplement and sit around on your @ss, eat like you always have and lose weight?
If you ever watched and or truly listened to the words that come out of Jillians mouth. First you would hear, Cardio, Cardio Cardio is a MUST, Sweat Sweat Sweat at least 40 hours of a 5 day week and strength(weight) training 3 days a week. So get off Jillians Back and up off your butt and do the real work. There is NO magic pill or potion. Only thing Jillian offers is "supplements" this means things to help aid you in your weight lose goals. Much like the protien "supplement" that is offered for your water, to help Aid getting that extra protien in for your WORKOUTS.
To be sueing someone that is out to do nothing more then make ILL, Unhealthy, On the Verge of Dying peple get motivated and to lose weight and save their lives is a shame, it is sad. YOU should be Ashamed of yourself and a very profound degree!
Jillian isn't just a strong advocate for fitness and wieght lose. She is a advocate for Green Peace, For Hunger, Feeding poor people and families that go hungry everyday while you shove another whopper down your gullet.
Jillian Michaels has mine and my roommates 200% support. We are both over weight and we are LIstening and following Jillian's Plan and We are Losing weight, we are becoming more healthy. Jillian was the first person to ever reach me enough to get me off my own ass. So Christian, Get up off yours and stop blaming Jillian and everyone else for your weight problems.
Very pissed off that someone would attack Jillian Michael for their own failures. I will protest her being Sued... we all need to ban together and protest Jillian being sued.
ReplyExcuse my typo's. When I am upset and typing away I tend to make them. I didnt check before posting.
I do have something else to add.
In the add Jillian never says it is a magic pills just take it and it works.
What she does says is "take two pills along with a healthy diet and regular exercise"
Never does Jillian claim the pills will make you lose weight and I dont believe she would ever condone such a thing. Jillian is all about a clean and healthy diet and regular exercise. I do believe the pills are simply a supplement just like the protien for the water. So NO Jillian Never lied!
ReplyI agree with Mayu!
At no point ever in commercials, printed, appearances, or any form did she advertise that it's a magic pill. She did say that with exercise and watching what you eat, it will HELP with weight loss.
ReplyI've used her dvd's, read her books, and using the pills, and i've lost 13 pounds.
It isn't what she believed that matters, it is that Jillian Michaels said, just take two pills and that is it. That is lying. It isn't it there is a lot more to it. We require truth in advertising and just because you and I know a pill doesn't currently work like that, doesn't mean that we cut Jillian Michaels extra slack for saying things that aren't true!
The most disturbing thing about the 'Magic Pills' that Jillian created is the company she partnered with to make them. Clearly she has been working with Basic Research all along, a company also named in the suit. These people have been charged by the FTC for selling diet pills to kids with ingredients that don't exist as well as numerous other violations, including fat melting creams... I guess when you get into bed with companies like this to make a quick buck you end up in court with them.
ReplyI agree, Mark. While consumers do have some "buyer beware" responsibilities, the supplement companies at large are rife with false claims. Jillian is partially responsible as people trust her opinion and this is a lucrative venture for her no doubt.
Dr. Phil ran into the same issue about 5 years back. Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Mercola - many trusted health figures attach their names to supplements that may or may not be effective.
ReplyNo she didn't say "Take two pills and that's that" Everytime I have heard her speak of these pills she say's "to take with your diet and excersise program". thats what it says on the bottle and that's what she says on the commercial. What is it that this Christie and you are not understanding? Have you seen the Biggest Loser? Does she not lecture and lecture about the importants of diet and exercise in changing your life. Never ever has she said.."just take a pill". Why would she endorse something different on a product then what she does on the Show? This idiot from Lake Elsinore is only trying to blame her failures on someone else and try to make money. Because it's not her fault for being heavy right? God forbid. I just hope the courts throw her and her case out in the street. Everything we buy and use is a at your own risk. How do we know she followed the directions? Whatever!
Replyuh, don't you think it's the exercise and eating healthy that is the part causing you to lose weight? if the pill does nothing, but claims it can help you lose weight, then it's just lying.
ReplyThanks, Poppa, you took the words just out of my mouth. Everybody who falls for that bull definitely has too much money to spend.
ReplyBacking these supplements just makes her a hypocrite. People see her on TV promoting healthy eating and exercise to lose weight - then she turns around and backs the notion - hey, just take 2 of these pills and lose weight. I don't think her videos or books are a bad thing, but promoting and telling consumers to take a "magic pill" is pretty discrediting. Like Mike Howard said, people trust her opinion and to do something like this is clearly just for money on her part.
ReplyCan we have a vote option that says: Not sure, but if she yells at me loud enough I'll punch her in her fat mouth... ?
ReplyJillian's pills do not claim to be a magic pill! I have them! AND they have a 100% guarantee that if they don't work you can return them at ANY time and get your money back. AND if you have listened to Jillian enough to take her word in an "endorsement" you know that she in NO WAY endorses doing NOTHING to lose weight. She is ALL about eating clean and exercising! This woman is a complete idiot and a terrible person! All she is after is Jillian's money. My bet is that she tried out for Biggest Loser-was rejected and now is PISSED and wants to take it out on Jillian.
Reply"Mark:It isn't what she believed that matters, it is that Jillian Michaels said, just take two pills and that is it. That is lying"
Whether or not Jillian believes the claim or not IS what matters...the last time I checked if you actually believe something then you don't think it's a lie.
Not to mention that suing someone because you're disappointed is ridiculous. Christie Christensen should sue herself because she's the ONLY reason she is fat.
On a more positive note, I was relieved to see that she wouldn't be suing for more than $5mil (major sarcasm here)
I hope that not only does Christie lose the case, but she has to pay for wasting everyone's time.
Reply***On a more positive note, I was relieved to see that she wouldn't be suing for more than $5mil (major sarcasm here)***
That'll buy a lot of HoHos!
ReplyPeople are always going to look for a quick solution, but companies should be ashamed of themselves exploiting this. Yes, the individuals should know better, but the vast majority don't, and they think because a trusted figure recommends something it must be okay.
ReplyAs predicted, this has gone the way of Dr Phil and his ill-fated "shape up" pills. That ended in a Class Action lawsuit, and Mr Phil ended up paying out $10 million about a year later.
Replyi graduated highschool, with a 3.7 gpa and i find it totally ridiculous that someone would sue because a pill doesnt work. First off, i took the pills (with exercise and a healthy diet...yes people read the bottle), and lost plenty. Secondly (once again read the bottle)..it says individual results may vary. JILLIAN did not twist my arm, JILLIAN did not promise me that i would have Elle McPhersons body and she sure as heck didnt say it would happen overnight..WATCH THE COMMERCIAL PEOPLE..it says "WITH HARD WORK"...key word being HARD WORK. I know we all want a scape goat to blame our laziness on, but come on...use your brains. I mean really...i didnt get Jillians biceps either after do 30 day shred..but i sure as crap aint gonna sue over it.It is a diet AID not a CURE...the only cure is for Christie to put those oreos down and get her butt on a treadmill..i am a firm believer in Jillian and her ways, i have -42 pounds and a size 4 to prove it. There comes a point where you have to save yourself, nobody is responsible for the choices you make..JUST YOU. hey heres an idea...maybe i should sue Subway because i gained weight with their FIT N TRIM SUBS..????? DUH...
ReplyAMEN TO THAT R. WESTON! Well said. All I have to say in response to you is "DITTO"!!!!
ReplyI was sort of waiting for something like this to happen to Jillian. As soon as I saw her "weight loss supplements" at Walmart, I figured that they were just some herbal concoction that was designed to be taken by people that were also following a healthy diet and exercising. You know, as kind of a placebo effect to keep people motivated. I don't think she ever advertised them as a magic pill that you could just take twice a day and get skinnier. But I also know the nature of the American public and there's always someone who will take things out of context and take advantage of the fact that these are endorsed by a celebrity to file a class action lawsuit.
Watch out Khloe/Kourtney/Kim Kardashian...QuickTrim is going to be next!
ReplyA class action law suit involves many unhappy customers so the scope is much larger than just Christie. Also, the lawyers will make the money and the plaintiffs will get very little.
ReplyHonestly I don't even think she should be allowed to be a trainer. She doesn't pay attention to form and doesn't even really get training at all. She needs to read more from people like Mike Robertson and Eric Cressey for Training and Leigh Peele, Alan Aragon etc. for info on nutrition and fat loss. I don't think she has bad person I just think she needs more education.
ReplyTotally agree Katie. A couple seasons ago she demonstrated how to use a kettlebell on The Biggest Loser and her form was horrid! She didn't understand the concept and purpose of a kettlebell at all but there she was playing the expert and telling America how to use one. Now I see she has her own line of kettlebells and videos - hopefully she got some real training on how to use one.
If anyone wants an opportunity to sue her, there ya go, her kettlebell instruction.
ReplyIm sure she is a great trainer, besides how would anyone here know, unless they have been trained by her personally. The show doesn't reveal everything that she does. On top of that, of course there is no magic pill, so if anyone actually believed that "2 pills a day and thats it" is true, you really need to come out from the rock you are under. Apparently that is part of marketing, and anyone would know that. She must be a great trainer, and i know that there are plenty of trainer on the show, but she is the main trainer next to Bob, and look at the end results of the contestants. That should tell you something...
ReplyTaking pills to lose weight (not correct a medical problem) is lazy and ridiculous and Jillian is being a total hypocrite by being a face of healthy and reasonable weight loss and then backing these.
These pills don't do crap. Healthy diet and exercise does. Why risk your health when it's questionable benefit (or even if it had benefit). So pathetic.
ReplyAfter I found out that Jillian was in business with Jackie Warner, the trainer who had a show on Bravo, all credibility is gone. Funny how she never mentions her involvement with Jackie. I don't blame her for that, who would want to be associated with Warner !!!!
ReplyBtw, if the pills do absolutely nothing for you other than a placebo effect that helps you exercise more regularly, then the pills "work" and the law suit is baseless.
No one should have the right to have an opinion on this matter unless they actually know the facts. I have seen too many claims in this forum about lies Jillian said. Here are the facts:
FACT: The bottle says "results may vary."
FACT: The commercial says that hard work is needed. The infamous "that's all," comment obviously refers to taking the pills, not weight loss as a whole.
FACT: You can debate Jillian's meaning in the ONE commercial, but the coaching she has provided THOUSANDS of times on the show and in her books make it painfully obvious that she does not endorse "magic pills."
FACT: Whether or not Jillian profited from the product is almost completely irrelevant. Capitalism is the basis for our entire economy, and Jillian is entitled to make a buck without being labeled an evil liar. The only issue is the efficacy of the pills.
This kind of gross misunderstanding can only be intentional. I'll bet 90% of the people accusing Jillian (including the moron suing her) don't actually believe she lied. They just think, "Aha! I can misinterpret that line to mean something I already know will fail. Then, when I inevitably fail, I can sue her ass!"
If you think taking a pill is all that is needed to lose weight, then you are stupid. Yes there are millions of claims out there, but there are just as many articles, papers, and studies with conflicting results. It is the responsibility of the consumer to read the product label and directions. If you actually read these, you would know the pills aren't magic. If you didn't read the label but still accused her, then you are both a moron who is more evil then you are claiming Jillian to be. You are the one who is just out to make money without checking the facts.
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ReplyIf she's certified to provide nutrition info or has staff members she has hired specifically to do so the suit may not hold water. Otherwise she should be consulting her lawyer.
I BOUGHT THE FAT BURNER AND CALORIE CONTROL AND THE CAFFINE MADE BY HEART FLIP FLOP ALOT. THERE IS A 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE, SO I RETURNED THEM FOR FULL REFUND. I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO TRY THE PRODUCT AND NOT THROW AWAY THE $60. I FOUND OUT THAT I REALLY DON'T NEED THIS OR ANY OTHER PRODUCT TO LOSE WT. I HAVE FOUND THE 5 BITE DIET AND HAVE LOST 7 LBS IN 10 DAYS SO FAR. I AM REALLY EATING 7 BITES 4 TIMES A DAY - YOU HAVE TO TWEEK IT FOR YOUR ACTIVITY LEVEL. IT IS A GREAT WAY OF EATING.
ReplyI'm so disappointed with her. She totally sold out! She KNOWS the hard work it takes to get that body. Tsk tsk JM!!
ReplyIn our sue-happy culture, I wouldn't be shocked if some dumb-ass jury awarded $650000000 trillion in damages.
ReplyFrom the AntiBiggestLoser.com blog:
Perhaps Michaels forgot what she wrote in the “Dispelling Myths” section of her book Winning by Losing:
“Diet pills and surgical weight loss options are two more examples of detrimental quick fixes. Diet products and procedures are simply gimmicks that target people’s apathy and hopelessness about their own health.”
I guess targeting people’s hopelessness is only OK if the buck lands in your pocket.
ReplyI did this diet and did not lose any weight in fact I gained 10 pounds, you can bet I will get my money back.
ReplyJillian has likely gotten some bad advice about endorsing products for money and/or has decided to cash in. Her books and early videos are great, however lately her name is on a gazillion things which contradict a lot of things she has said in the past. She has totally sold herself out.
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