As debate continues around Serena Williams’ promotion of GLP-1 weight-loss medication in a high-profile Super Bowl campaign, a contrasting and more troubling narrative has emerged. This time, it is from podcast host Bunnie Xo, who says her own experience with similar medication included severe side effects.
The discussion intensified after Serena Williams appeared in a Super Bowl advertisement for telehealth company Ro. She openly shared her weight-loss journey and encouraged transparency around medically supported treatments.
The campaign sparked strong reactions online, with critics questioning whether a global sports icon should promote weight-loss drugs to a mass audience, while others defended her decision as a personal health choice.
Against that backdrop, the host of the podcast Dumb Blonde, Bunnie Xo’s emotional comments have broadened the conversation beyond body image and performance.
In a recent interview, she revealed that she experienced what she described as a deeply dark period while taking a GLP-1 medication, including suicidal ideation. She said that this side effect felt unfamiliar compared with past anxiety struggles. Opening up about her period, she said:
“You’d rather have anxiety because you want to be afraid of dying. You don’t want to have depression because, literally, you don’t care if you want to die. So yes, it was something really dark.”
Even though she is doing better now, she shared a message for the audience, drawing from her experience:
“I really think people need to talk more about this. To those going through something similar, please stay. Everyone, please stay because you are here for a reason… don’t make a permanent decision based on a temporary emotion because this will pass.”
Serena Williams Opened up About Her Health Journey After Taking GLP-1s
Serena Williams spoke to Today.com in January, where she laid bare her Super Bowl ad about the GLP-1s medication. While opening up about the ad, she weighed in on how the medication helped her in her health journey. Highlighting the major changes she witnessed in her body, she said:
“My blood sugar is better. I was able to lower my cholesterol by 30%. Some of these numbers [previous high cholesterol levels] are from when I was literally winning Grand Slams. It wasn’t, like, just playing tennis. I was dominating. I was at risk for heart disease, and I didn’t even know. … That’s scary.”
She added:
“It’s more about … not even the weight loss, but it’s about longevity. I started doing more Pilates. I always did that before as well. I love running, and I never thought I would keep running, but I love it now.”
This controversy fell upon Serena Williams amid the reignited speculation of her possible comeback to tennis.
Read More Tennis News:
1. Andy Roddick Gives Expert Justification For Why Serena Williams Is Taking Weight Loss Drugs Now Amid GLP-1 Criticism
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