Ricki Lake has hit back at accusations that she has been using Ozempic to shed the pounds, as Barbra Streisand sparked public furore for speculating if Melissa McCarthy had used the drug.
Ricki, 55, recently lost 30 pounds in four months and has been open about her weight loss journey while showing off her slimmed-down figure.
But she was recently forced to deny that she had been using Hollywood's new favourite weight lossmedication, which suppresses hunger by tricking your brain into thinking you're full.
Taking to her Instagram on Friday, the actress shared a slew of new snaps from a trip to New York City.
Among the photos were several beaming selfies of the TV host, where she could be seen looking noticeably slimmer and toned.
Ricki Lake has hit back at accusations that she has been using Ozempic to shed the pounds, as Barbra Streisand sparked public furore for speculating if Melissa McCarthy had used the drug
Ricki, 55, recently lost 30 pounds in four months and has been open about her weight loss journey while showing off her slimmed-down figure (pictured in 2022)
But she was recently forced to deny that she had been using Hollywood's new favourite weight loss medication, which suppresses hunger by tricking your brain into thinking you're full (pictured last month)
Captioning the shots, she gushed: 'NYC, once again you spoil me! ❤️ #iloveny #happy #proudmama #love #friends #springtime'.
Ricki was flooded with messages from her fans, declaring she looked 'fabulous', 'beautiful' and 'glowing'.
However, one follower accused the star of having 'Ozempic face' - the term used to describe the rising new look in Hollywood as a result of the drug, causingsunken in eyes, gaunt cheeks and saggy skin.
The follower took to the comments to write: 'That Ozempic face is real! Damn!!!'
But Ricki was having none of it, and hit back by simply correcting: 'NOPE'.
The Hairspray star previously revealed her incredible transformation in February and insisted she did it'without relying on a pharmaceutical.'
She explained that she and her husband Ross Burningham had each lost 30 pounds in four months, in the 'healthiest way'.
She took to her Instagram to share some before and after progress photos, and said her weight loss journey took place while she is inperimenopause - the transition period before menopause, which can slow down metabolism.
Taking to her Instagram on Friday, the actress shared a slew of new snaps from a trip to New York City including several beaming selfies, where she could be seen looking noticeably slimmer and toned
While Ricki was flooded with messages from her fans declaring she looked 'fabulous', one follower accused the star of having 'Ozempic face' which she shut down immediately
The Hairspray star previously revealed her incredible transformation in February and insisted she did it 'without relying on a pharmaceutical' (pictured now left and in 2019 right)
She explained that she and her husband Ross Burningham had each lost 30 pounds in four months, in the 'healthiest way' (couple pictured ahead of weight loss)
In the lengthy caption, Ricki penned:'Hi friends. I've been wanting to share with you what I’ve been up to these last 4 months.On October 26th, 2023 I made a commitment to myself to get healthier.
'My husband, Ross joined me in this effort. Together we have each lost 30+ lbs. I really want to share, because we did this without relying on a pharmaceutical. (Not that there is anything wrong with that.)'
'But neither of us were pre diabetic and both of us felt like we wanted to at least try and do it on our own,' the star — whose highest weight was 260 pounds — went on.
'Being 55 and in perimenopause, I was a bit worried, that my body would not drop the lbs like it had in the past.'
She went on:'I am so so proud of us. I feel amazing. I feel strong.I will go in depth in another post of what I did exactly, but suffice to say this is the healthiest way I've lost weight in all of my years.'
'First pic - taken today on our daily hike,' she shared, referring to a snap of her in a straw hat and grey sweatshirt, with Ross strolling behind her.
'Second pic and third pic 11/3/23,' she added, in reference to a snap of her and Ross hugging, and another one of her on the beach, both of which displayed her fuller figure.
'(I only started weighing myself on 11/15/23) guessing I was about 170 when I started. I’m 5’3”,' she explained, adding the hashtags '#healthy #fitat55 #proud #thisis55.'
The actress added a graph from her phone showing her weight loss progress, which revealed she had lost 20 pounds since November
Ricki — whose highest weight was 260 pounds — has been candid about her weight loss journey throughout the years (pictured in 1990)
The star weighed 200 pounds when, at age 19, she was cast as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 John Waters movie, Hairspray (pictured in film)
In 2022 on her podcast Raised By Ricki , she spoke out about her complicated relationship with weight loss and discussed going on a 'crash diet' and getting down to a 'sample size' (pictured last year)
The actress added a graph from her phone showing her weight loss progress, which revealed she had lost 20 pounds since November.
Ricki has always been candid about her weight loss journey throughout the years.
The star weighed 200 pounds when, at age 19, she was cast as the lead role of Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 John Waters movie, Hairspray.
In 2010 she told GMA: 'Being fat worked, and I think that was what was confusing for me for a long time in my career.'
Then in 2022 on herpodcast Raised By Ricki,she spoke out about her complicated relationship with weight loss and discussed going on a 'crash diet' and getting down to a 'sample size.'
She recalled: 'I was offered four magazine covers. It was People, Us Weekly, OK! — the power of that, it was unbelievable. Well, not unbelievable, totally believable, but it happened to me. Yes, I got more opportunities, more attention, it was way more positive.
'I'm conflicted because I am proud of myself. When I lose that weight, it is something I want the world to know, I did this. It's a lot of work and a lot of willpower, so I want to talk about it, but I know that it’s not the best thing to be celebrating.'
Ricki said at the time that she was 'perpetuating that obsession we have with diet culture,' adding, 'I’m a part of it.'
Her denial comes during a rising popularity for Ozempic, especially among the rich and famous, with celebrity fans including Sharon Osbourne (pictured last month), Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk and Boy George all admitting to using it
While some celebs have owned up to using the medication, others have vehemently denied it and insisted that they achieved their weight loss naturally - fueling a furious wave of 'have they or haven't they' speculation, such as Khloe Kardashian (pictured)
Her denial comes during a rising popularity for Ozempic, especially among the rich and famous,with celebrity fans including SharonOsbourne,OprahWinfrey, Elon Muskand Boy Georgeall admitting to using it.
The drug is usually prescribed to individuals who have type two diabetes and need to improve their blood sugar, but it's become wildly popular as a weight-loss aid ever since the FDA approved the active ingredient in it, semaglutide, for weight management.
It acts like a hormone in the brain, and causes people to feel less hungry while slowing the clearing of food from the stomach.
Many of Hollywood's most well known faces have undergone major body transformations in recent months coinciding with the rise of the injection.
While some celebs have owned up to using the medication, others have vehemently denied it and insisted that they achieved their weight loss naturally - fueling a furious wave of 'have they or haven't they' speculation.
This came to a head on Monday, asBarbra left fans reeling after publicly grilling Melissa about if she was on the drug.
Melissa, 53, had posted an image of herself and pal Adam Shankman, 59, at CTG's The Gala 2024 in Los Angeleson Sunday.
The comedian - whose weight has fluctuated over the years - showcased her newly slimmed down figure in a stylish mint dress and blazer.
This came to a head on Monday, as Barbra left fans reeling after publicly grilling Melissa about if she was on the drug
Melissa, 53, had posted an image of herself at CTG's The Gala 2024 on Sunday, showing her newly slimmed down figure after her weight fluctuating over the years (pictured at event left and in 2014 right)
Taking notice of the snap, Barbra, 82, commented with the question: 'Give him my regards did you take Ozempic?' before quietly deleting the comment after the backlash
The EGOT-winning entertainer was quickly at the receiving end of huge public backlash, calling out the nature of her inquiry (pictured in 2019)
Taking notice of the snap, Barbra, 82, commented with the question: 'Give him my regards did you take Ozempic?'
The EGOT-winning entertainerwas quickly at the receiving end of huge public backlash, calling out the nature of her inquiry.
Several described the line of questioning as 'rude,' 'nasty,' 'disgusting and disrespectful' and indicative of a vapid mentality in Hollywood.
Another said that Melissa 'looks healthy, no matter how she got there' and that they were 'surprised at the lack of respect' Barbra showed with her question.
While Barbra did not respond to the angry criticism, she did quietly delete her comment.
There has been much speculation for the past few months over whether Melissawas using Ozempic, but she hasn't publicly confirmed or denied the rumours.
The Bridesmaids star has had ups and downs whereas it comes to weight loss, as she lost 70 pounds in 2003 via an all-liquid diet for her part in Gilmore Girls.
She told People in 2011: 'I’d never do that again. I felt starved and crazy half the time.'
There has been much speculation for the past few months over whether Melissa was using Ozempic , but she hasn't publicly confirmed or denied the rumours (pictured this month)
The Bridesmaids star has had ups and downs whereas it comes to weight loss, as she lost 70 pounds in 2003 via an all-liquid diet for her part in Gilmore Girls (pictured in 2014)
Speaking on CBS This Morningin 2015, Melissa said that she 'truly stopped worrying' about her weight.
She added: 'I stopped over-analyzing, over-thinking, over-doing anything... I just stopped constantly being worried about it and I think there’s something to kinda loosening up and not being so nervous and rigid about it that, bizarrely, has worked.'
The following year, she told Extrathat there was 'no trick' nor 'nothing to tell' regarding her 50 pound weight loss.
She said: 'Just super boring life. You bring it real down, you don't do anything fun and you go to bed at 7:30 - that's the trick.'
