Jillian Michaels is an American fitness personality and anti-transgender activist. Michaels is a prominent opponent of transgender athletes and gender affirming care for minors.
Background
Michales is a fitness trainer best known for The Biggest Loser. Michaels came out as lesbian in 2014.
Anti-trans activism
Via a 2024 article explaining why Michaels was leaving California:
Regarding gender-affirming care, Michaels condemned legislation that allows children to “irreparably change their bod(ies).” As a medical practice, gender-affirming care includes everything from talk therapy to hormone therapy to (in rare instances) surgical intervention.
“If my son came to me and said, ‘Mom’ — or my daughter — ‘I think I’m trans.’ I’d say OK, you know, like, you want to dress this way. You want me to call you whatever the heck you want, dress, fine. Explore it. I love you. I’m cool,” Michaels said. “Do you as long as we’re safe, but we’re not changing your body until it’s fully developed. I’m sorry. Conversation’s over.”
Keeping It Real
Michaels hosts the podcast Keeping It Real.
On July 29, 2024, the podcast released a new video version as part of Bill Maher’s Club Random Studios. The press release stated the show would cover everything “from genetic engineering to gender in sports to the future of robot doctors.”
Anti-trans guests include Michael Shellenberger, Matt Walsh, Ana Kasparian, Dave Rubin, Phil McGraw, Megyn Kelly, Bill O’Reilly, Heather Heying, Cenk Uygur, Vivek Ramaswamy, Candace Owens, Gad Saad, Sean Hannity, Batya Ungar-Sargon, Bari Weiss, and Piers Morgan.
References
Hammer, Alex (May 1, 2025). Jillian Michaels shares blistering take on trans medicine for kids and pro-fat activism with Joe Rogan. This Is Money https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/media/article-14669257/jillian-michaels-joe-rogan-obesity-trans-children.html
Penley, Taylor (November 20, 2024). Jillian Michaels shreds ‘ridiculous’ Dems for turning on Seth Moulton: This is why you got your ‘butts kicked.’ Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/jillian-michaels-ridiculous-dems-seth-moulton-butts-kicked
Selleck, Emily (August 16, 2024). Fitness guru Jillian Michaels reveals her solution to fix Olympic gender controversy as Imane Khelif wins boxing gold. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-13750745/Jillian-Michaels-Olympics-boxing-gender-Imane-Khelif.html
PR Newswire (July 29, 2024). Jillian Michaels Breaks New Ground with Dynamic Video Format of “Keeping It Real” with Club Random Studios. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jillian-michaels-breaks-new-ground-with-dynamic-video-format-of-keeping-it-real-with-club-random-studios-302207620.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Segarra, Edward (June 13, 2024). Jillian Michaels says she left California because of ‘mind-boggling’ laws: ‘It’s madness.’ USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/06/13/jillian-michaels-california-move-victimology/74088965007/
Goodbar, Mitchell (April 23, 2024). Celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels reveals ‘irrefutable’ reason why trans athletes should be banned from competing against biological girls. Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13342963/Celebrity-trainer-Jillian-Michaels-trans-athletes-banned-girls.html
Hill, Bailee (April 23, 2024). Jillian Michaels says evidence ‘irrefutable,’ trans athletes should not compete against girls. Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/jillian-michaels-evidence-irrefutable-trans-athletes-compete-girls
Chapados, Andrew (December 27, 2023). ‘It’s not fair’: Fitness trainer Jillian Michaels says transgender athletes will ‘systematically destroy women’s sports.’ Blaze Media https://www.theblaze.com/news/jillian-michaels-transgender-womens-sports
Nichols, James (October 17, 2014). Jillian Michaels Opens Up About Her Sexuality: Jillian Michaels Says ‘Gay Thing’ Is Hard For Her, It Would Be A ‘Dream’ To Be ‘Normal.’ HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jillian-michaels-openly-gay_n_6004106
Selected anti-trans writing by Michaels
Michaels, Jillian (April 5, 2025). JILLIAN MICHAELS: Terrifying truth about why so many celebrity children are trans… that every parent must read, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14572945/transgender-hollywood-stars-children-JILLIAN-MICHAELS.html
Michaels, Jillian (August 1, 2024). The Trans Athlete Debate “Dilemma.” https://www.jillianmichaels.com/blog/trans-athlete-debate-dilemma
Media
PowerfulJRE with Joe Rogan and Jillian Michaels (April 30, 2025). Joe Rogan Experience #2313 – Jillian Michaels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVP2dwURrD0
OutKick’s Tomi Lahren is Fearless with Tomi Lahren and Jillian Michaels (August 15, 2024). Jillian Michaels SLAMS Woke Paris Olympics | Tomi Lahren is Fearless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_ZjHIpKlSI
The Chris Cuomo Project with Chris Cuomo and Jillian Michaels (May 21, 2024). Jillian Michaels, fitness icon, talks trans athletes and fairness in sports. https://wgnradio.com/the-chris-cuomo-project/jillian-michaels-fitness-icon-talks-trans-athletes-and-fairness-in-sports/
Newsmax with Emma Rechenberg and Jillian Michaels (May 5, 2024). Jillian Michaels: If you speak your mind, you’re labeled transphobic | National Report. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QemyKxnG_w0
Newsmax with Emma Rechenberg and Jillian Michaels (May 2, 2024). Jillian Michaels: Science supports absurdity of trans athletes in women’s sports, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuswLowNETg
Fox & Friends (April 24, 2024). Jillian Michaels: This data is irrefutable. Apr 24, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXci8DvauYk
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Jillian Michaels (jillianmichaels.com)