Regardless of working with the largest losers, Gillian Michaels and Bob Harper’s off-screen friendship was utterly totally different, however the place do they stand now?
Premiering in 2004, NBC’s largest loser adopted a gaggle of individuals thought-about obese competing in a 30-week competitors. The objective was to lose as many kilos as potential to crown the “huge loser.”
The competitors collection rapidly turned a cultural phenomenon as viewers had been coordinated every week to see the Michaels and Harpert Rain contestants. The largest loser was later criticised for allegedly urging opponents to drop some pounds by means of intense train and a calorie-restricted weight-reduction plan.
Harper was a part of the present each season earlier than taking on the brand new host on the Allison Sweeney location. Nonetheless, Michaels was changed by Kim Lions after becoming a member of the primary two seasons. Michaels returned to the fact present in 2007 and was additionally the coach for the Australian model of the present from 2006 to 2008.
Michaels completed the largest loser in 2011 earlier than returning to Season 14 in 2011. Her ultimate season was in 2013, however she did not come again once more earlier than the largest loser completed her authentic run in 2016.
Harper and Michaels gave the impression to be pleasant on the present, however neither of them leaned towards friendships aside from the largest losers. Harper was requested in 2020 about working with Michaels whereas watching what occurs dwell with Andy Cohen.
“I am actually excited to work with two new trainers. I imply, they’re superb,” he stated.
Michaels additionally confirmed that he was not in contact with Harper after experiencing a coronary heart assault. Their points had been simply addressed on Netflix’s August 2025 docusary in TV: The Actuality of the Greatest Loser. Proceed scrolling to relive their friendship:
2004
Harper and Michaels joined the largest losers as trainers. That’s, the groups had been competing with one another’s seasons for the season. Michaels left a number of occasions whereas Harper remained on the present.
2013
Michaels formally left the largest loser ceaselessly in 2013.
“I do not need followers to really feel that it is too huge for the present or that they are in search of a inexperienced meadow. I am so grateful for the present and I am so unhappy to depart,” she informed folks again then that on the time, “it was there for some time” concerning the “elementary variations” between her and the present’s producers.
The nutritionist stated he did not like how she was portrayed, saying, “You noticed not one of the bonds I construct with shoppers, you noticed a relationship. [It caused] Tens of millions of individuals have this distorted damaging notion of me. ”
Harper did not take care of Michaels’ exit on his aspect, and it did not seem to be they’d proceed to contact him.
2017
Michaels weighed Harper after struggling a coronary heart assault whereas exercising at a fitness center in New York Metropolis.
“What do you actually suppose?” She says E! I stated within the each day pop. “I do know that he has a household historical past as a result of I do know a bit about Bob. He was there the night time she died when he misplaced his mom to a coronary heart assault. So there’s household historical past.
Michaels confirmed that she was not in contact with Harper, saying, “From what I keep in mind Bob, he is watching it, and he stated, ” [do it]! “He would not suppose so. He personally appears to be “I really like this problem.” ”
It is definitely surprising! Some celebrities are in search of excessive methods to drop kilos, whereas others rework with the assistance of more healthy methods. From Rosie O’Donnell and Jordyn Sparks’ 50 pound weight reduction every to a whopping 155 author frames of largest loser winner Rachel Frederickson, watch earlier than and after movie star weight reduction conversion photographs.
2020
After returning as hosts with new trainers Erica Lugo and Steve Cook dinner, Harper informed Weekly that he and Michaels had not been in contact with “in any respect” for a very long time.
“I am superb,” he stated on the time. “We have had a couple of folks from the previous, however not many. It is good to have contemporary eyes on the present, however there are additionally my OG eyes that may assist the contestants!”
2020
Michaels frowned when he commented on Rizzo’s weight in an interview with AM-DM on BuzzFeed Information.
“Why aren’t we celebrating her music?” As a result of it isn’t nice if she will get diabetic,” she stated. “I am simply sincere. [My family] love [Lizzo’s] It is music, however there is not any second I like. Why do I care too? Why is it my job to be involved about her weight? ”
The coach took her to Twitter to confront her feedback. “As I’ve stated once more, we’re all stunning, beneficial and equally worthy,” Michaels wrote on the time. “I additionally strongly really feel that I really like myself sufficient to acknowledge the intense well being penalties of coronary heart illness, diabetes and most cancers.
Harper put plenty of emphasis on the controversy, saying in 2020, “I could not even take into consideration the place she got here from. I am not going to provide my opinion on anybody about my ideas to anybody who would not need it. That is not my enterprise.”
2025
Harper was requested about their friendship in Netflix’s three-part docusary. TV: The truth of the largest loser.
“How can I put this on? Individuals all the time say, ‘You and Jillian had been so shut,’ Harper informed the producers earlier than discussing the 2017 coronary heart assault. “After I had a coronary heart assault, she was one individual I might by no means heard of. It spoke quantity for me.”
Harper detailed in an interview with The Guardian in August 2025, saying, “We weren’t the perfect, however we have been our TV companions for a really very long time. We do not anticipate Gillian Michaels to do something however what she desires to do.”
