Rosie O'Donnell Unleashes Fury on Jay Leno and 'The Biggest Loser' Over "Shameful" Clip

Rosie O'Donnell is absolutely seething, and she's not holding back. The veteran comedian has publicly slammed Jay Leno and the creators of the new "Biggest Loser" documentary, "After the Biggest Loser," for using a 2007 clip from his "Tonight Show" where she discussed her gastric sleeve surgery. The unauthorized inclusion of the footage has clearly struck a raw nerve, leading O'Donnell to label the move as "shameful" and deeply "disrespectful."

The contentious clip, originally aired on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," features O'Donnell candidly speaking about her weight loss journey and the surgical procedure she underwent.

Its appearance in the "Biggest Loser" exposé — a documentary scrutinizing the controversial and often damaging practices of the reality weight-loss show — was reportedly without O'Donnell's consent, fueling her public outcry.

In a powerful TikTok video, a visibly upset O'Donnell recounted the painful moment she discovered her image in the documentary.

"I found out a new documentary about 'The Biggest Loser' used a clip of me on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' talking about my weight loss surgery," she stated, her voice tinged with disbelief and anger. "I literally said to my assistant, ‘Did they ask permission to use that?’ And she said, ‘No.’" This blatant disregard for her consent is at the heart of her fury.

But O'Donnell's condemnation extended directly to Leno himself.

"Jay Leno, who I thought was my friend, allowed them to use the clip," she asserted, revealing a profound sense of betrayal. Her words underscore a deeper disappointment, suggesting a breach of trust from someone she considered an ally. "Jay, I don't know what you're doing, but it's really, really shameful that you would allow them to use that clip and not get my permission." Her tone conveys a feeling of being exploited by someone she once respected.

The documentary itself aims to shed light on the long-term health consequences and the "culture of shame" that "The Biggest Loser" allegedly fostered among its contestants.

O'Donnell's clip was seemingly used to illustrate this broader narrative of societal pressure and the often-unhealthy pursuit of weight loss. However, her involuntary inclusion has now become a focal point of the documentary's own controversy.

Rosie O'Donnell, who has been openly vocal about her struggles with weight and her journey toward health, including her gastric sleeve surgery in 2013, feels her personal story has been co-opted for a narrative without her say.

Her passionate denouncement serves as a stark reminder of the ethical considerations involved in documentary filmmaking and the importance of securing proper consent, especially when dealing with sensitive personal health information. Her message is clear: this was a personal violation, and she's demanding accountability.