Social Media Believes This is the Real Reason Behind Oprah Winfrey’s Hospitalization

The streets are talking — and they have some thoughts about Oprah Winfrey’s recent hospitalization. After missing a scheduled “CBS Morning” appearance, Winfrey was hospitalized with a ‘stomach bug,’ according to longtime friend Gayle King.

King told the audience during the live broadcast that Winfrey had stuff coming out from “both ends,” leading to apparent dehydration and the need for the hospital to administer an IV.

This, of course, opened the floodgates of critique on social media. Through X and Tik Tok, critics are claiming the cause of Winfrey’s hospitalization is her use of Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes medicine linked to various celebrities using it for a quick way to lose weight.

Critics believe Ozempic promotes harmful measures to achieve a certain look. Celebrities, who have admitted to using Ozempic and other Semaglutides such as Wegovy, include Tracy Morgan, Whoopi Goldberg, Kelly Clarkson and Amy Schumer. Winfrey has openly admitted to the use, echoing the medical worlds claim on how effective the drugs can be. She recently appeared in an ABC special on the drugs, sparking The Root to write:

Now, it looks like she’s trying to get some of that credibility back with a new ABC special examining the issue. According to Variety, the media mogul “recorded the special in front of a live studio audience and gathers medical experts to discuss weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy.”

Here’s the thing: We’ve been doing this dance with Oprah for decades. She discovers a new method, undergoes a huge transformation, then uses her platform to expound on the very specific technique she used. These drugs may actually work, but there’s something about this whole situation that just feels disingenuous.

Despite all the good, semaglutides are known to cause vomiting and stomach irritation, which is likely why social media has it’s theory about what sent Winfrey to the hospital. “It’s the ozempic. I know several folks on ozempic who’ve gone through this,” one commenter stated on X.

Winfrey opened up recently regarding her role in diet culture and admitted to using Semaglutide medication herself. In the three-hour special “Making the Shift,” Winfrey apologized for being a “major contributor” to diet culture in the U.S.

Despite what the internet thinks led Winfrey to the hospital, a Tik Tok video made by creator Dr. Jen Caudle analyzed what King said about Winfrey and stated that stomach bugs are common.

“This is a thing. Gastroenteritis or stomach bugs tend to be pretty common. What causes this? viruses and bacteria can cause it.” Caudle said.