Katt Williams has slammed celebrities using Ozempic, calling the drug "f***** up."
There has a been a surge in off-label use of the diabetes medicine as the injections supress appetite and promote weight loss. Several celebrities have publicly admitted to using the drug including comedian Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler, Tracy Morgan and Elon Musk.
"They say Ozempic is like no other drug in the universe," Williams told the crowd during his show in Greensboro on Friday. "Ozempic don't play by no rules."
The comedian then hit out at celebrities using Ozempic to lose weight, suggesting that Oprah Winfrey had used the drug. The talk show host said she'd added a weight loss medication to her regimen in December, although she didn't name a specific brand.
"They say Oprah took so much, that Gayle [King] lost 10 pounds," Williams said, referencing Winfrey's long-time friendship with the TV personality.
Williams joked that he knew a woman who weighed 126 pounds but lost 131 pounds on the drug, adding "she had to get a few pounds from her family and friends."
The 52-year-old also praised Ozempic critic Sharon Osbourne. The reality star revealed the drug was behind her recent weight loss, but swore off the medicine in February after dropping below 100 pounds and struggling to put on weight.
"Sharon Osbourne [is] the only one who has the guts to come out and say 'this is f***** up,'" Williams said.
A photo of an emaciated Osbourne popped up on the screen behind him, with the comedy star jokingly adding: "She ain't been taking it for two weeks."
Newsweek has reached out to Katt Williams and Sharon Osbourne for comment via email and Oprah Winfrey through Instagram.
Ozempic is a brand of semaglutide, a drug that is used alongside diet and lifestyle modifications to help control type 2 diabetes. The injection mimics a hormone released in the gastrointestinal tract, causing the body to release more insulin and reduce blood sugar levels.
However, the medicine can result in weight loss by affecting the part of the brain that controls appetite. It also slows the emptying of the gut, making users feel fuller for longer.
The brand Wegovy is also a semaglutide, but unlike Ozempic, which is used off-label for weight loss, Wegovy is specifically designed to treat obesity.
According to healthcare analysts Trilliant Health, requests for Ozempic and other semaglutides rose by 300 percent across America between 2020 and 2022. However, concerns have been raised about using semaglutides to shed pounds.
Semaglutides have been linked to an increased risk of stomach issues, while a recent study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy suggested the injections can occasionally cause serious psychiatric episodes, such as anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation.
In response to the study, pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, which manufactures both Ozempic and Wegovy, said there is no evidence that either drug can cause suicidal thoughts or mental health issues, referencing FDA findings during the approval process.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Sophie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in Lincoln, UK. Her focus is reporting on film and ... Read more
