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Oprah Winfrey says she’s stepping down from WeightWatchers. Its shares are plunging.
Oprah Winfrey said she’s stepping down from her role at WeightWatchers after serving on its board of directors for nine years. She also pledged to donate her financial stake in the weight-loss company to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Winfrey’s announcement, issued late Wednesday, sent shares of WeightWatchers into a tailspin. In premarket trading, shares plunged 25%.
Winfrey joining WeightWatchers in 2015 gave the weight-loss company a high-profile boost, with its shares more than doubling soon after the deal was announced. But in recent years, WeightWatchers and other diet companies have struggled amid a shift toward so-called GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, which rely on hormones to control appetite and have helped people shed extra pounds.
The media star’s decision comes after she disclosed last year that she relies on these drugs to maintain her weight. Winfrey told People magazine in December that she “released my own shame about it” and went to a doctor to get a prescription, although she didn’t disclose the name of the medication she relies on. Winfrey added, “I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing.”
WeightWatchers, officially named WW International, last year moved into the prescription weight-loss drug business by purchasing Sequence, a telehealth provider that offers users access to GLP-1 drugs. It also debuted WeightWatchers GLP-1, a subscription program for people using that class of drugs.
In her statement, Winfrey said she will continue “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.”
Winfrey said she’s donating her shares in WeightWatchers to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a Smithsonian institution in Washington, D.C., as she’s been a long-time supporter of the organization.
In the statement, WeightWatchers said Winfrey’s decision to donate her shares is partly “to eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight loss medications.”
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Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.
How to watch the “60 Minutes” election special
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