Serena Williams Sparks Outrage After Revealing She Lost 30 Pounds Using Weight-Loss Medication

23 August 2025

In the clip, Williams, 43, appeared to inject herself with the weekly medicine, which she claims her body “needed” after having two kids. Sage East/Ro/Mega

Serena Williams, the tennis legend whose career has long defied the confines of convention, recently found herself at the center of a cultural firestorm when she revealed in a joint Instagram post with telehealth company Ro that she had lost over 30 pounds using GLP-1 weight-loss medication. The post, in which Williams appears to self-administer injections of the drug, included her candid admission that her body "needed" the treatment after two childbirths. She described feeling physically and mentally lighter since adopting the regimen around six months after the birth of her second daughter in 2023.

The announcement triggered a wave of backlash, with many fans and commentators expressing disappointment. Critics argued that Williams’s endorsement of the medication especially as a revered athlete could normalize pharmaceutical shortcuts over natural recovery and hard-earned fitness routines. One fan lamented, “As an athlete and an influencer, it’s a shame that you’re reiterating the narrative that you need to take medication to be healthy.” Another upset commenter added, “Now we can undo all the progress made around allowing women to take their time recovering postpartum.”

Underlying the controversy is Williams’s storied legacy of challenging beauty norms and stereotypes. For years, she was celebrated not just for her dominance on the court but for embracing a body type that defied mainstream athletic ideals. Her entrance into the GLP-1 conversation felt jarring to some observers. “She built her career on defiance,” one wrote, “so why lend her legacy to Ozempic culture?”

Williams has spoken openly about her rationale. In discussions with People and Vogue tied to the media campaign, she explained her frustration at her own postpartum body plateauing despite disciplined training and nutrition. “I did everything,” she said, “but couldn’t get my weight to where I needed to be.” She emphasized that the drug helped her where nothing else worked a perspective that softened some of the criticism. Fellow users and commenters noted the importance of the conversation she opened about postpartum struggles and mental well-being.

Experts, however, caution against normalizing GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Zepbound for cosmetic weight loss. These drugs, designed primarily to treat type 2 diabetes, have significant side effects and remain costly and inaccessible to many who rely on them for medical reasons. Increased celebrity use has led to supply strains, and there’s concern the growing popularity of quick-fix narratives could deepen diet culture and risk public health, especially where long-term safety data remains limited.

This controversy is not Serena Williams’s first involvement in wellness debates, but it represents a defining moment in how her fame is now intersecting with culture, health, and commercial endorsements. While fans may feel betrayed by her choice, others argue her honesty may help reduce shame around intervention when traditional recovery paths fail.