Abby Phillip slams Jillian Michaels for claims about America's 'evil' slavery history

USA Today

a day ago

CNN anchor Abby Phillip is slamming Jillian Michaels for peddling false claims about slavery on her show last week.
The "NewsNight" host slammed Michaels in an on-air monologue Aug. 19 after nearly a week of backlash aimed at the "Biggest Loser" celebrity trainer turned conservative commentator over comments that some found offensive.
"Last week, on this show, a guest shocked the table by arguing – in part – that slavery can't just be blamed on one race and that museums put too much focus on the role of White people who participated in that terrible institution," Phillip, 36, said.
USA TODAY reached out to reps for Michaels for comment.
Phillip then referenced a Truth Social post Aug. 19 from President Donald Trump that said museums like the Smithsonian "throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of 'WOKE.' "
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"The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was," Trump continued. After reading Trump's post, Phillip continued to address the Michaels on-air debacle.
"What we try to do on this program is create a platform for discussion and debate. Debate that reflects the very real differences that exist in this country," Phillip said. "It's what echochambers in our society fail to do, frankly. But on this topic, it's important to say, objectively, slavery was indeed bad. It was evil, the nation's original sin."
Phillip captioned the social media post, "Some people think we talk too much about slavery in America. But you can't understand this country without it."
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A post shared by Abby Phillip (@abbydphillip)
Phillip's comments came the same day that the trainer took to Instagram in a series of posts to slam claims made about her in the buzzy Netflix docuseries "Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser" (now streaming).
She slammed a range of allegations, including that she once told a contestant, "You're going to make me a millionaire," and that she plied contestants with caffeine pills and encouraged calorie restriction. She also addressed a rumored feud with former costar Bob Harper.
Michaels, 51, was a breakout star on NBC's now-controversial 18-season weight loss competition series that aired from 2004 to 2016.
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The former "Biggest Loser" trainer got in an on-air argument Aug. 13 with most of the "NewsNight" panel, which included Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky, Democratic congressman Rep. Ritchie Torres, CNN media analyst Sara Fischer and conservative Scott Jennings, known for frustrating the panel during his appearances.
After Roginsky said that Trump wanted to deem what was "appropriate for what the Smithsonian can teach in terms of American history," including slavery, Michaels asked for examples. The "Keeping It Real" podcast host claimed that Trump is "not whitewashing slavery." Roginsky asked, "So, he's not?" Michaels replied, "He's not. No."
She added that "you cannot tie imperialism and racism and slavery to just one race, which is pretty much what every single exhibit does."
Torres then opined that "slavery in America was White supremacy," as Michaels replied, "Do you know that only less than 2% of White Americans owned slaves?" and added, "Did you know that slavery is thousands of years old?"
Phillip cut in and said that she was "really surprised" by Michaels for "trying to litigate who was the beneficiary of slavery and who was not."
"In the context of American history, what are you saying is incorrect by saying it was White people oppressing Black people?" Phillip asked. Michaels responded: "Every single thing is like, oh, no, no, no, this is all because 'White people bad,' and that's just not the truth."
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Later in the segment, Phillip told Michaels, "We don't have time to litigate all of this," after she brought up other social issues. The "Just Jillian" alum said, "Of course we don't, because then you're going to lose the argument. And if everything is racialized, just like you're trying to do to me now."
"Excuse me?" Phillip said, seemingly taken about by the interaction. Michaels said that "It's like, oh, I can't believe you're trying to suggest ..." before the CNN star interrupted and said, "Just to be clear, you brought up race," adding that "this was a conversation about the arts and you brought up race." Michaels then claimed Phillip brought it up.
After more back and forth, Phillip simply said, "All right. We're going to move on."