Tamra Judge is clapping back at critics amid ongoing health problems.
After The Real Housewives of Orange County star recently posted a photo of herself in the hospital suffering from an intestinal obstruction, the 56-year-old denied her stomach issues were caused by Ozempic, the FDA-approved Type 2 diabetes medication also used as a weight-loss drug.
"These comments that I'm on Ozempic are disgusting," Tamra wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) Oct. 9. "I've suffered from intestinal problems for years. I've had multiple surgeries in the past 12 years."
The Bravo star went on to explain how the procedures have affected her appearance.
"Remember when you all made fun of me for not having a belly button?" Tamra continued. "That was due to emergency life-saving surgery. Part of my intestines were being strangled. My grandmother died of intestinal problems. I've never been on Ozempic and personally, wouldn't use it for weight loss!"
In her original post, which showed the former gym owner lying in a hospital bed, Tamra noted she's "praying" she didn't need surgery over her latest medical complication.
Tamra's comments on the controversial weight-loss drug come just over two months after her RHOC costar Emily Simpson shared she briefly used Ozempic earlier this year at the advice of her doctor to "jumpstart" her recent body transformation.
"I really neglected myself those four months that we were filming," the 47-year-old told Us Weekly in July. "I ate too much, drank too much, didn't go to the gym, didn't work out and I felt really down, really depressed, really dark when we finished filming."
But after her physician prescribed her the semaglutide drug in December to curb her cravings, Emily revealed, "It was great for my diet. It really just kickstarted me into eating better and eating healthier 'cause it makes you feel like crap 'cause nothing tastes good."
Though she said her Ozempic use was effective at first, Emily also noted it was short-lived. Rather, she credits routine workouts for her slimmed-down look.
"The thing that bothers me the most is that when people comment on the way that I look, they constantly say, ‘Ozempic, Ozempic,'" she explained. "And it's like, yes, I did use that nine months ago, but I don't like that it discounts all the hard work I put in. At least gimme credit for seven days a week, getting up at 6 a.m. every morning and busting my butt in the gym every single day."
Keep reading to see the other Real Housewives who have spoken out about Ozempic accusations.
Since giving up alcohol and beginning an intense fitness journey in 2022, Kyle Richards has repeatedly denied Ozempic use accusations.
"I have never tried ozempic and this is not from plastic surgery," The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star replied to an Instagram user in January. "I did have a breast reduction in May. I'm honest about what I do. But if giving plastic surgery the credit makes you feel better then pop off sister."
The Halloween Ends actress reiterated to another follower, "I am NOT taking Ozempic. Never have."
After revealing in April that she's been using Ozempic, Dolores Catania shared an update on her weight loss journey in July.
"I'm down 20 pounds," The Real Housewives of New Jersey star told The U.S. Sun, adding that her goal "is to be in the low 130s."
The 52-year-old explained she began taking Ozempic several years ago on the advice of her doctor before switching to similar injectable anti-diabetic medication Mounjaro.
"I was medically prescribed for both because I am insulin resistance/pre-diabetic and have a thyroid issue," the Bravolebrity explained. "It's questionable—what are the repercussions of this when everyone's done? Is there side effects? All the doctors that I spoke to said 'no.'"
However, the reality star reminded fans the weight "doesn't come off easy," adding, "I work out regularly. There is no easy fix for weight loss and I have to watch what I eat."
Once filming season 17 of The Real Housewives of Orange County wrapped, Emily Simpson was advised to use the Type-2 diabetes medication by her physician.
"The doctor was just like, ‘There's this new weight loss drug and it's just been FDA approved and it's great. I think it would really help you lose some weight and you'll feel better and you'll be able to get working out again and feeling more like yourself,'" she shared in July. "And I was like, ‘OK, sounds great.' I did that in December. It was great for my diet. It really just kickstarted me into eating better and eating healthier 'cause it makes you feel like crap 'cause nothing tastes good."
But Emily noted she only took the medication for a short period of time. Now, she credits hitting the gym seven days a week for her new slimmed-down look.
"The thing that bothers me the most is that when people comment on the way that I look, they constantly say, ‘Ozempic, Ozempic,'" she explained. "And it's like, yes, I did use that nine months ago, but I don't like that it discounts all the hard work I put in. At least gimme credit for seven days a week, getting up at 6 a.m. every morning and busting my butt in the gym every single day."
Jackie Goldschneider, who has been open about her struggles with an eating disorder, spoke out against Ozempic use.
"You should know that I can talk about Ozempic all day. It gets me so fired up," The Real Housewives of New Jersey star told Page Six's Virtual Reali-Tea podcast in February 2023. "I'm horrified by it."
"There's going to be a lot of people with eating disorders," she continued. "You start dropping massive amounts of weight. That's so addicting. That's how I spiraled into anorexia."
In March, Margaret Josephs confessed to using Ozempic-like injections to help shed pounds.
"I take them as a shot once a week, and that helps you lose weight and improves your metabolism," The Real Housewives of New Jersey star told Insider. "Everyone is like, ‘Marge, you look great,' although some of my costars think some of my weight loss is not a great idea. But I think it's ridiculous. I think it's whatever works for me."
Gina Kirschenheiter weighed herself in a May TikTok video to prove to fans she wasn't using Ozempic.
"I'm a size 6. If i wasnt eating i would be a 2. Go kick rocks. I'm weighing myself to silence the noise," The Real Housewives of Orange County star, who revealed she weighed 155.9 pounds, wrote at the time. "I am very healthy, very average. Like all of us, I try to take my pictures at good angles [and] I stopped drinking a year and a half ago. I'm not on a weight loss drug and it's not my fault that you want to try and make something that's not there, my friend."
During a July appearance on Watch What Happens Live, host Andy Cohen pointed out that Erika Jayne looked like a "whisper of herself."
When The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star confirmed, "Yes, I did come down in weight, and I did it hormonally," Andy quipped, "Not Ozempic-ally?"
The singer then clarified the reason for her slimmed-down appearance. "I was going through menopause," Erika, who was also rehearsing for her new Las Vegas residency at the time, explained. "I went to the doctor and I said get it off me."
Bethenny Frankel called out Bravo stars for using Ozempic for weight loss.
"If someone is struggling with obesity and working with a doctor, that is one thing (and this is all new in this application) but thin rich country club cul de sac Americans, buying this online and at Mexican pharmacies is another thing," The Real Housewives of New York City alum wrote on Instagram in April. "I'm hearing stories about it affecting people's personalities. Mark my words, we're not going to hear about this s--tshow for months and years to come."
Having battled an eating disorder most of her life, Crystal Kung Minkoff got candid about why she's never considered using the drug.
"It's not a good place for me, personally for my recovery," The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star told Page Six in April. "I've never judged or looked down on anyone that finds different avenues for [weight loss]. I would be lying if [I said] I haven't thought about it. And then I have to check myself if that's right for my recovery, and I'm in a very specific situation."
Alexia Nepola denied getting injected with Ozempic on camera in March, clarifying it was actually a B-12 shot.
"It's for energy, and it has, like, other nutrients," The Real Housewives of Miami star told Page Six. "The doctor had given it to Marysol [Patton] because she felt weak and lethargic, and [it] maybe had to do something with her diet, but the B-12 always adds to anybody's health."
In March, Jennifer Fessler hinted at Ozempic use without actually saying the word.
"I did lose a lot of weight," The Real Housewives of New Jersey star revealed on Watch What Happen Live. "I took peptides and I don't know if you've heard of medications associated with that that help people lose weight."
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