Jillian Michaels Reveals Why She Left 'The Biggest Loser'

The fitness trainer said her daughter was hearing bad things.

ByABC News
July 16, 2014, 1:18 PM
Jillian Michaels poses backstage at the Heart Truth 2013 Fashion Show at Hammerstein Ballroom in this Feb. 6, 2013, file photo in New York City.
Jillian Michaels poses backstage at the Heart Truth 2013 Fashion Show at Hammerstein Ballroom in this Feb. 6, 2013, file photo in New York City.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Heart Truth

— -- Jillian Michaels wanted to be clear about one thing after she recently announced she'd be leaving "The Biggest Loser."

"I don't want fans to think I feel like I'm too big for the show or that I'm seeking greener pastures. I'm so grateful to the show and so sad to leave," she told People magazine. "There were some fundamental differences [with the show's producers] that have existed for a while."

Michael, 40, said people were starting to see her as a villain.

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"In the beginning of the show it was tough love. You saw the tough, and you saw the love," she said of how things had changed over time.

More recently, she said, "You saw none of the relationships, none of the bonds that I build with my clients ... millions of people have this warped negative perception of me."

In fact, people started to judge her home life with her partner and children -- son, Phoenix, 2, and daughter Lukensia, 4.

She said someone actually commented "about what kind of mom I must be."

Another person even brought her daughter into it, saying directly to her: "I know who your mom is -- she's a cheater. I saw it on TV."

After last season's winner and the show were both criticized for health concerns, Michaels said, "I had to take a hard look at my work. I came to the conclusion that moving forward, I need to be able to have an impact on the outcome of what I do.”