Overweight Guest Sues Rachael Ray Show For "Demeaning" Treatment
The Rachael Ray Show projects a wholesome, family-focused image that has endeared it to millions. For one fan who was lucky enough to be on the show, however, the experience was anything but friendly.
The teen, Christina Pagliarolo, was 18 years old and 260 pounds when she went on the Rachael Ray Show in April 2011 in order to lose 70 pounds for prom. She was hoping that Ray could help her with the weight loss because of the large amount of bullying she had endured throughout her life.
The Rachael Ray Show reached out to Pagliarolo and set her up with a personal trainer, Jennifer Giamo. At the time, the teen attempted the weight loss challenge with open arms, but two years later she has come forward to claim that the Rachael Ray Show was "grossly negligent, careless, reckless, wanton, and outrageous" in how it handled her training.
The lawsuit also claims that the personal trainer Giamo related to Pagliarolo "in a manner that caused Plaintiff to feel anxious, demeaned and threatened." Giamo's YouTube channel paints a far different picture in a video description of the episode:
"Jennifer Giamo is her personal trainer and gives her the workout of her life! Christina stepped up to the challenge by running, doing exercises and various calisthenics, while monitoring her heart rate and maintaining fluid levels. Christina was not used to this type of strenuous activity, however, she kept sight of her weight loss goals and kept pushing herself. The end result was that Christina felt great about her accomplishment and the fact that she did not give up. Great job, Christina!!"
The overweight teen claims in her suit that she was pushed so hard that she fell over multiple times and sustained injuries from the training. She states that she was yelled at and humiliated, and is seeking restitution for the mental and physical toll levied on her. The Rachael Ray Show claims they have yet to receive any lawsuit.
"We haven't received this purported lawsuit but if it does materialize we will defend ourselves against it vigorously and fully expect to prevail," a spokesperson for the show told The Huffington Post.
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