When tennis legends make headlines, it’s rarely about weight loss drugs. But Serena Williams’ recent admission about using GLP-1 medication to drop nearly 31 pounds has sparked one of the most heated debates in sports and celebrity culture.
What started as a candid discussion about postpartum struggles has turned into a full-scale controversy, with English actress Jameela Jamil delivering a scathing response that’s impossible to ignore.
What Did Jameela Jamil Say About Serena Williams Using Weight Loss Drugs?
Williams met her husband, Alexis Ohanian, in 2015. The couple became engaged in 2016 and married in New Orleans on November 16, 2017. Their first daughter, Olympia, was born on September 1, 2017, and they welcomed their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in August 2023.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion struggled to lose weight through conventional methods after giving birth to Adira. While speaking to TODAY, Williams disclosed that she has been taking GLP-1 medication to help with her recent weight loss. GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, medications are a class of drugs used to manage type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Williams also mentioned that her decision to use a weight loss drug was part of her partnership with the healthcare company Ro, for which she is a spokesperson.
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The news did not sit well with Jamil, who took to social media to criticize the former World No. 1. Jamil expressed her concerns about celebrities endorsing such drugs because they have access to medical professionals who can guide them safely in using these medications, access that most common people do not have.
“Serena Williams is selling GLP-1s. The thing I feel most uncomfortable about here is that celebrities have access to doctors that most others don’t have access to. These ‘miracle’ weight loss drugs come at a price,” Jamil wrote.
Why Is Jamil Concerned About Celebrity Endorsements of Weight Loss Drugs?
Jamil highlighted the side effects of these weight loss drugs, which she says include cancer, hair loss, malnutrition, muscle loss, and depression.
“The side effects can include paralysis of the gastric system, pancreatitis, cancer, hair loss, osteoporosis, severe malnutrition, muscle mass loss, depression (there have been reports of suicide), thyroid issues, blindness, and they can really wreak havoc on your metabolism,” she continued.
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The 39-year-old also pointed out that when people stop using these medications, they often regain the weight, a fact that advertisements and media frequently overlook.
“If, for some reason, you have to suddenly come off, many people gain the weight back and then some, fast. And it’s much harder to then lose. Nobody tells you these things in the adverts and media,” she wrote.
Additionally, Jamil stated that she disapproves of celebrities promoting drugs with such serious documented side effects.
“You need blood tests, DEXA scans, nutritionists, and a dedicated weight regimen to maintain muscle mass and bone density. You need medical support. If things go wrong, you don’t have a billion dollars to fix it, that’s why I don’t like celebrities pushing drugs with such drastic documented side effects,” Jamil added.
However, Jamil also clarified her stance, making it clear that her criticism wasn’t personal.
“Please read the caption before posting. This is not at all about Serena or her choice to do whatever she wants with her body,” Jamil captioned her Instagram story.
On the tennis side, Williams retired from the sport in 2022 after competing in the US Open. She concluded her career with 39 Grand Slam titles, including 23 singles Grand Slam titles and 14 doubles Grand Slam titles, which she won alongside her sister, Venus Williams. She also won two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles.
Williams achieved the World No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles in the WTA rankings. She won one Olympic gold medal in singles and three in doubles, among many other accolades.
