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Serena Williams ‘publicly promoting Ozempic-like product’? Fans disappointed by weight loss drug TV shout-out

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Coming out on the TODAY show, tennis superstar Serena Williams revealed this week that shed lost 31 pounds. However, it wasn’t so much the weight loss confession that ticked people off, it was the accompanying shout-out to a weight loss drug that made it possible.

With brands like Ozempic consuming headlines of celebrity buzz left and right, the tennis icon’s recent claim just did not sit well with the crowd. As she shared that her recent change in appearance was all credited to drug Zepbound, a GLP-1 medication, her fans were more than disappointed.

Serena Williams becomes the face of weight loss drug, company tied to her husband

“I was on and off (the medication) and now completely on,” she said of giving into the weight loss drug experience on the TODAY show. “It was a really good decision I had to make for my life. I tried everything.” Williams’ admission came with yet another shout-out to healthcare company Ro.

During her recent series of interviews, she also told TODAY and People that while she never felt pressured to look a certain way and always felt comfortable at any size, there was a different side to it all as well.” Turning to the times when she was “heavier,” Serena added, “I do feel like my body didn’t like me at that weight. I had pain in my joints and pain in different areas just because of the extra weight that I’m not used to carrying since I had children.”

Just days ago, the direct-to-patient healthcare company announced in an official news release, saying the multi-Olympic gold medalist “has been using Ro to lose weight and is joining as a celebrity patient ambassador.” The multi-year campaign seeks to “normalise the use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss and support others on their health journeys.” The official note also includes a disclosure, stating that the tennis great’s husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, is not only an investor in the company, but also serves on its board.

In addition to her comments on the whole issue during her TODAY appearance, Williams also sent out a message about her weight loss drug usage in the new Ro news release. “I trained at the highest level, ate a clean diet, pushed myself, and still, after having kids, my body just wouldn’t respond. I realized it wasn’t about willpower; it was biological. My body needed the GLP-1 and clinical support,” she said.

“I’m partnering with Ro because if I needed help as a top athlete doing everything at level 10, I know others are struggling too, and everyone deserves access to the treatment they need. This isn’t a shortcut. It’s healthcare.”

What is GLP-1?

According to Cleveland Clinic, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists “are a class of medications that mainly help manage blood sugar (glucose) levels in people with Type-2 diabetes. Some GLP-1 agonists can also help treat obesity.” The mostly injection-based medications are considerably new, with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving the first GLP-1 agonist (exenatide) in 2005.

These drugs in question mimic the GLP-1 hormone naturally released in the gastrointestinal tract as a consequence of eating, thereby triggering the release of insulin from pancreas. Their various types come under numerous brand names, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Victoza, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Byetta, Trulicity and more.

As per Harvard Health Online+, side effects of GLP-1 drugs include what is commonly called the “Ozempic face,” referring to a sagging look on the face and wrinkles. Since it facilitates rapid fat loss in the face, the outcome is likely to bring about a hollowed look, change in the size of lips, cheeks and chin, sunken eyes, and sagging jowls around the jaw and neck.

Other common gastrointestinal symptoms may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. Some serious, though rare, side effects could be gallstone attacks and bile duct blockage, pancreatitis, gastroparesis and bowel obstruction.

How fans reacted to Serena Williams’ weight loss drug confession, Ro collab

Although it took Williams’ fans a second to realise that she had basically turned into a paid spokesperson for Ro, many were quite instant with their criticism of the weight loss reveal.

“So no Serena Williams is publicly promoting GLP-1 from Ro, an Ozempic-like product, and claiming her use of it for weight loss, as a healthy choice,” an X user ranted in disbelief. Another added, “I’m deeply disappointed in her, as an ex-athlete that has been into body positivity and healthy lifestyle besides appearance.”

Someone else complained, “GLP1 is a drug, and there are still doubts about the safety of this drug. Please don’t promote something so sinister for money. Many people might be influenced by you to use this drug, and they might suffer harm!”

Meanwhile, a fourth person wrote, “Serena Williams promoting ozempic/GLP-1 is problematic and disappointing because it’s being marketed as a ‘health’ choice rather than an aesthetic one.”

Yet another user turned to Williams’ identity being long associated with the message of body positivity, as they said, “Seeing THE Serena Williams being used to sell weight loss products feels like an insult to everything Serena Williams represents, stands for, and has achieved, even if she herself or her team doesn’t feel that way.”