Aretha Franklin Jenny Craig Endorsement Offer Hits Sour Note
Aretha Franklin was left “highly insulted” earlier this month after she was asked to become the latest celebrity spokesperson for weight-loss giant Jenny Craig. The Queen of Soul — who tips the scales at nearly 300 pounds nowadays — turned them down flat.
Whoa there, Queen! Are you sure you don’t want to rethink that one?
This wouldn’t have been Ms. Aretha’s first soiree with Jenny. The 67-year-old singer signed up with the company two years ago and dropped 25 pounds on a 1,750 calorie-a-day diet. Aretha quit Jenny Craig a few months later, complaining that she was “always starving.”
In the June 2007 issue of Sister 2 Sister Magazine, Aretha said: “I lost 23 or 24 pounds to begin with, but it’s kind of a strain when you get to 23 or 24 pounds. That’s why I got off of it. It’s a strain because you’re eating the Jenny Craig-type meals, which are very good. But you can only eat them for so long before you want some barbecue ribs or some pigs feet. Once you get off that Jenny Craig thing and you start eating what you’ve been eating, it’s all over.”
Written by Castina on May 17th, 2009 | Tagged as: Aretha Franklin
On May 18th 2009, iris vennie wrote:
Ms. Aretha is so pretty and I can imagine it to be very difficult to manage your weight, especially when you have the means to eat all sorts of food; however she is over weight and it could be bad for her health. I wish she would loose beacuse weight is said to be hard on the heart and with her talent it would be a shame to loose her from the singing world, just because she refuses to loose weight and possible cause her death or server health problems. We love you Ms. Aretha.
On May 18th 2009, Kimberly wrote:
Ms. Aretha Franklin is not only a beloved Super Star, she's an icon of a remarkable talent that helped cultivate the music industry to become the success it is today, especially R & B. This concludes that "it would be a shame to loose her from the singing world".
I also believe that essentially, Ms. Franklin will embrace the wonderful benefits to weight reduction; strenghening her ability to reason and being open and honest concerning the need to do just that – loose it! I too want to see you around for many more years to come Ms. Franklin. More importantly, YOU are the Queen of Soul no matter what.
God bless you, and yours.
Kpd, New Britain, CT
On May 18th 2009, ? wrote:
Ugh she disgusts me. She KNOWS it takes a lifestyle change, but just won't do it. I hate people like that.
On May 18th 2009, Dr. Ruth Britton wrote:
I agree that Ms. Franklin is a beautiful lady inside and out, She is a role model for all people. I love her and respect her. I am over weight therefore, I know the struggle and determination it takes to maintain a weight reduction program .
Maybe if she would or could consider engaging a dietian to inform her or coach her to the path that will teach her as to why and how important it is to eat better. So to have food placed in the front of you and expects you to be faithful is highly unlikely without proper training. I wish her success in loosing the pounds and prays that she will not be defeated.
On May 18th 2009, JW wrote:
She needs to get a grip and see how "FAT" she is in the mirror. Stop trying to be a Diva and try a diet!
On May 29th 2009, Lakisha wrote:
Aretha is a beautiful woman, but she does need to lose weight. It is unhealthy, and with all that money, I would be dying to lose weight because I had the available resources. But even after eating southern foods, it is hard to start a food consumption program, but yet and still, it gives you more energy when you eat healthy. I am so sorry that Ms. Franklin quit the program, or better yet, just gave up . . .
On June 3rd 2009, Marilyn wrote:
If Aretha was on My Plan she would still be able to eat what she usually eats. Poor Darling. Dieting is just too restrictive. and I know why people are always starving.
On December 12th 2009, nedthe bigguns wrote:
She got the tits that only a cow could envy.