Jillian Michaels Reveals the Real Reason She Left ‘Biggest Loser’

Jillian Michaels shocked fans last month when she announced she’d be leaving The Biggest Loser after 10 years on the weight-loss competition.

Due to differing reports on her reason for quitting after 12 seasons, the trainer says she’s ready to set the record straight.

“I don’t want fans to think I feel like I’m too big for the show or that I’m seeking greener pastures. I’m so grateful to the show and so sad to leave,” shares Jillian. “There were some fundamental differences [with Loser’s producers] that have existed for a while.”

One of the biggest being the way the mother-of-two was portrayed on the NBC series.

“In the beginning of the show it was tough love. You saw the tough, and you saw the love,” she explains. But in recent seasons, “you saw none of the relationships, none of the bonds that I build with my clients.”

Due to her harsh on-screen persona, “millions of people have this warped negative perception of me,” Jillian laments. Commentators were even calling her abusive and questioning “what kind of mom I must be,” says the 40-year-old.

The hurtful comments began to affect her personal life with partner Heidi Rhoades and their two kids, daughter Lukensia, 4, and son Phoenix, 2.

As for last season’s winner, Rachel Frederickson, who caused controversy over her extremely thin appearance at the finale, Jillian tells People magazine, “I had to take a hard look at my work. I came to the conclusion that moving forward, I need to be able to have an impact on the outcome of what I do.”