Kathy Bates, 77, Blasts Haters Over 100-Lb Weight Loss While Taking Ozempic

"The Miracle Club" star breaks her silence on the painful truth behind her staggering weight loss — and why it wasn't fast, easy, or what people think.

For nearly a decade, Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates has been on a private, grueling journey, one marked by illness, discipline, and emotional reckoning. Now, the 77-year-old star is finally opening up, confronting the Ozempic issues, and revealing the deeply personal reasons behind her transformation.

In two separate interviews, she opens up about the slow, painful path she followed, the family tragedies that shaped her, and how she's still processing the emotional weight of it all.

Over the course of several years, she lost around 100 pounds. The transformation was impossible to ignore, but so were the rumors. As her body changed, so did the public narrative.

When the speculation turned to Ozempic, Bates didn't hold back. In an interview with Variety published September 10, 2025, she confronted the assumptions head-on.

She said, "People say, 'Well, it was the Ozempic.' F— you, it was the Ozempic! It took me years to do this. I got this diagnosis about diabetes — my father died of it; his mother died of it; one of my sisters is in peril. When they said 'diabetes,' I figured out what to do to slowly, over years, to lose the weight. And then when Ozempic came along, I was able to lose the last 15 to 20 pounds and keep it off."

The actress's story didn't begin with a trend. It began in 2017 with a diagnosis that shook her. Type 2 diabetes, a disease that had already devastated her family, became the turning point. Bates made a choice: change, or risk losing everything.

But the path forward wasn't just physical. In an interview with People from October 2024, she revealed the deeper emotional pain behind her eating habits.

"I ate because I was afraid, and I ate because it was a FU to my self-esteem. [Diabetes] runs in my family, and I'd seen what my father had gone through. He had had a leg amputation. One of my sisters is dealing with it very seriously, and it terrified me. It scared me straight," she revealed.

The shift started with small, deliberate changes such as portion control, cutting out fast food favorites, and following one piece of advice from her niece that stuck with her. "When we're full, we experience an involuntary sigh. I just pushed the plate away," she shared.

Gone were the burgers and sodas, the late-night snacking. And yet, she allowed herself small pleasures now and then, like a rare hot dog on set during a crew appreciation event, knowing she could enjoy it without falling back into old patterns.

But even as the scale dropped, the emotions surged. While preparing for her role in CBS's "Matlock' reboot, a wardrobe fitting brought unexpected tears, a reminder that the journey was more than skin-deep.

"I just started crying and crying. I'm still figuring out what it's like to be without all of that weight. What was it for? What was I hiding myself from? What are the emotions that are pouring out because I don't have that armor? It just really surprised me, really shocked me," the acclaimed actress recalled.

Now, Bates is determined to keep the weight off, opting out of celebrity trainers in favor of a routine she can manage on her own. "I have a treadmill here at the house, and I might try Pilates...it's just very important to me to keep this going. I don't want to slip," she added.

With the first season of "Matlock" wrapped and her health stabilizing, she reflected on the way everything seemed to align. "The juxtaposition of getting healthy and then this show coming along is just unbelievable. The timing of it is great," she said.

Her fresh start didn't just play out on screen or in private as it turned heads on the red carpet, too, where her jaw-dropping transformation stole the spotlight.

As previously reported, Bates' appearance at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, February 23, had fans doing double takes, with many stunned by her transformation and showering her with compliments.

Bates opted for a timeless, tailored ensemble, stepping out in a sleek, cinched black blazer paired with matching trousers. Instead of traditional heels, she made a bold statement in Sneex's The Icon high-heeled sneakers, featuring a striking black and white colorway.

Her silver hair was styled in soft, face-framing waves, falling just above her shoulders and adding an elegant finishing touch to the look.

One admirer was caught off guard by her fresh look, exclaiming, "Wow! Didn't recognize her at first! She's lovely! ❤️" Another kept it simple but enthusiastic, writing, "She looks fantastic."

A fan particularly impressed by her weight loss, wrote, "I'm so proud of her. She lost so weight [sic]. Looking great." Another echoed similar sentiments, noting, "Lost wt [sic] and looks so much younger." One more supporter cheered her on, "She looks phenomenal 👏👏."

Another fan chimed in, "She looks great, looks younger.. Ozempic or not." An admirer impressed by the changes they saw, commented, "She lost so much weight and nice facelift, she looks wonderful." However, another fan was taken aback by her transformation, stating, "Looks like a different person, nice job."

Speculation about how she achieved her new look also surfaced as one user noted, "She denies it but she looks like she is using the weight loss drugs. Dramatic change hard to accomplish just with diet at her age." Additionally, not everyone was thrilled with the shift, as one person wrote, "TO [sic] THIN NOW."

Bates earned two nods at this year's SAG Awards, including one for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series for her role in "The Great Lillian Hall." But in the end, it was Jessica Gunning who took home the award for her chilling performance in "Baby Reindeer."

Additionally, Kathy Bates was also nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her powerful turn as the lead in "Matlock," but the award ultimately went to Anna Sawai, who took home the honor for her role in the sweeping epic "Shōgun."

Bates was also nominated for the 2025 Golden Globe Awards for her role in "Matlock,' a gripping TV reboot that blended legal drama with personal intrigue.

But it was her reaction on awards night that truly set tongues wagging. During the January 5 ceremony, her dramatic response to losing the award stunned viewers, with many taking to social media to express their disapproval of the awkward moment.

Bates appeared in a string of hit TV shows, including "American Horror Story," "Two and a Half Men," and "Harry's Law." But it was her powerful portrayal of Madeline "Matty" Matlock in the TV series "Matlock" that earned her a 2025 Golden Globe nomination, a triumphant nod to a role that marked both a career resurgence and a personal breakthrough.

Bates was nominated for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama, thanks to her standout role as Matty. But despite the buzz and critical acclaim, she missed out on taking home the Golden Globe as the coveted award ultimately went to Sawai for her incredible performance in the 2024 season of "Shōgun."

Before presenters Colman Domingo and Salma Hayek announced Sawai as the winner, the camera panned across the nominees, including Bates, to capture their win or loss reactions.

Moments later, after the winner was revealed, Bates was caught on camera ripping up her acceptance speech, now instantly useless, her eyes wide with playful mischief and unexpected flair.

Despite Bates also clapping for Sawai, her tearing up her acceptance speech sparked a wide range of opinions online. One viewer seemed baffled, asking, "Why'd she do that?" Another admitted they couldn't believe what they saw, confessing, "I had to watch it twice 🤣🤣."

Some took a more critical stance, with comments like, "This is bitter," and another user writing "Weirdo."

On the other hand, many fans found humor and charm in Bates' unexpected move. One enthusiastically declared, "Kathy Bates is a legend her reaction to losing the Golden Globe was hilarious and totally iconic 😂." Another fan celebrated her boldness, "Kathy Bates ripping up her speech was peak legend energy."

Amid the debate, a few fans voiced their love and admiration for the actress, with one writing, "Love her!! She desserved [sic] better 🥺🧡."

She may not have taken home the trophy this time, but the moment still marked a milestone. Bates earned her eighth Golden Globe nomination, a powerful reminder of her enduring legacy in Hollywood. Over the years, she had already claimed two Golden Globe wins.

Her first win was in 1991 for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for "Misery." In 1997, she took home Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television for "The Late Shift."

Beyond the Golden Globes, Bates has numerous other accolades throughout her career. She earned an Academy Award for her chilling performance in "Misery," and later claimed two Emmy wins to her name, one for her scene-stealing role in "American Horror Story," and another for her unexpected comedic turn in "Two and a Half Men."