Jonathan Van Ness has hit back after receiving backlash for dropping 70 pounds using weight loss drug GLP-1.
Posting via his TikTok on Thursday, October 30, the Queer Eye star, 38, explained his decision to choose to use the medication amid accusations from fans that he was no longer “body positive.”
“What do you mean? I’m all about body neutrality,” Van Ness responded via the TikTok video. “The way that you look does not define your worth, doesn’t define your lovableness. You are worth love and worth celebration, no matter what your body looks like.”
In the video, Van Ness also described having a “medical issue” in 2023 and said he opted to use GLP-1 because he “just didn’t feel good.” He added that he was also incorporating exercise into his routine, including Pilates.
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“My body’s never in my whole life [looked like this] — I’ve always wanted to have an ab,” he said. “I’ve never had abs. And I feel really good, so I’m taking my shirt off a lot.”
He added, “I was always really cute, and I always felt cute. But I just didn’t feel good, and now I feel good.”
Van Ness said he felt “like a f**king minx right now” and added that he wanted to look back fondly at what his body looked like in his 30s when he was an elderly man.
@jvn_official Wanted to share this 💅
In January, Van Ness spoke about using GLP-1, a category of medication that includes Ozempic and is used to treat diabetes and aid in weight loss, to help him deal with a binge eating disorder.
At the time, Van Ness shared before-and-after photos side by side via his Instagram Story to show the progress of his weight loss journey. He shared that he had lost 66 pounds.
“Alright, I have a confession to make. Yes, I am on a GLP-1 or a weight-loss medication,” Van Ness wrote via the post. “If you have been following me for a long time, you’ll know that I gained and lost weight several times very publicly. And this time in my life, I knew that I needed a little bit of extra help.”
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In the post, Van Ness added that he started the GLP-1 injections in September 2024, saying he “felt immediately better” after his binge eating disorder sprialled “out of control.”
“I was consistently making decisions that I regretted with compulsive eating and with bingeing that just left me feeling really not good, depressed and out of control,” he wrote.
He continued, “I, for the first time in my life, have had control over my food intake. It has helped me so massively, and that’s part of why I wanna be honest with you about it because I know how important asking for help is, and how much asking for help can change your life in terms of healing. This time, I needed help.”
If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders website or call their hotline at +1 (866) 662-1235. Text “ALLIANCE” to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.
