Jillian Michaels May Be The Real ‘Biggest Loser’ After Scandal Breaks

Trainer Jillian Michaels broke the rules of one of the hottest reality shows on TV, The Biggest Loser, by issuing caffeine supplements to her team.

This unprecedented breaching of the show’s rules led to the return of a former winner of American Idol, Ruben Studdard, who was actually eliminated last week.

Michaels insisted that the supplements were completely safe, but she added that she was sorry that her team members would have to suffer because of her decision. The exposure of this non-compliance with the rules of the show is damaging to the integrity of both the show and Jillian Michaels.

One conspiracy theory making the media rounds is whether this was simply a device to bring back a famous contestant to boost the ratings.

Jillian Michaels herself is adding fuel to the conspiracy fire by entering into a Tweeting argument. On Tuesday night a viewer tweeted that Michaels was “being used to bring a famous contestant back,” Michaels tweeted back: “you’re spot on.” So, was this an orchestrated sequence of events to bring Studdard back?

Executives were not available to discuss the incident, or whether it was a device to bring Ruben back.

There was no prior warning about what Jillian Michaels had decided to do until the weigh-in began. Then host Alison Sweeney announced: “Last week Jillian broke the rules and gave caffeine supplements to each member of her team without a doctor’s permission.” Michaels’ visible reaction was one of both anger, and sorrow.

Because Michaels had violated the rules, Sweeney announced that the earlier weigh-in would be declared null and void.. That meant Ruben would return, and the blue team would have immunity for one more week.

How was Jillian Michaels’ team going to be punished for her decision? A four-pound penalty would be added at the weigh in. Michaels said she did not agree with the ruling or penalty. “I stand by my opinion. A caffeine supplement is significantly healthier than unlimited amounts of coffee.”

In the event, the supplement did not give Michael’s team any benefit at the weigh-in. Even without taking into account the four-pound penalty, the team failed to lose enough weight.

Will there be any long term consequences for Jillian Michaels as a result of her decision? Maybe she will end a different kind of “Biggest Loser!”