Jillian Michaels, the 51-year-old host of the political talk show "Her Take," dramatically left her own podcast during a live broadcast on Monday. The walkout occurred amidst a fiery debate involving Israel's political actions and the late Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist. The episode took a contentious turn when an unverified claim was discussed, alleging that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had offered a substantial financial incentive to Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA.
The discussion became heated when Michaels challenged her guests to provide evidence supporting the claim that Netanyahu had proposed a $150 million deal to influence the organization's stance on Israel. “There’s no proof of that, in fact the opposite is true!” Michaels asserted during the episode. She pressed for proof from former DNC fundraiser Lindy Li, but the conversation escalated without resolution.
As the debate intensified, Michaels clashed with progressive commentator Ana Kasparian. Kasparian, in the heat of the argument, demanded to finish her point, further straining the on-air dynamics. Michaels expressed her frustration with the recurring criticism of Israel on the show, questioning why it seemed to be a persistent theme.
Eventually, Michaels reached her breaking point. She picked up her laptop, removed her microphone, and announced her departure from the show, stating, “This is not for me. I’m not interested in this. I love you guys, I’m sorry. I have zero interest in doing this.” Kasparian's retort about Israel committing genocide was the last exchange before Michaels officially quit the series.
In the aftermath, Michaels appeared on James Li’s Today-ish podcast, where she expressed feeling "misled" about the episode's content. She had concerns about the timing of the discussion, which coincided with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah and immediately followed Kirk's memorial. Michaels emphasized her desire for the show to avoid becoming another platform solely for criticizing Israel, especially given the sensitive timing.
Michaels did acknowledge the importance of "healthy criticism" of Netanyahu and his policies, but she sought balance, which she felt was lacking in the episode. She concluded that Kasparian had fixated on Israel to an excessive degree. When questioned about future collaborations, Michaels confirmed that she would not be returning to "Her Take."
The podcast, which began in May under Patrick Bet-David’s Valuetainment Studios, was designed to offer a unique voice in the media landscape. At its launch, Bet-David highlighted the show's commitment to giving a voice to influential women and aligning with the audience's beliefs and perspectives. Michaels had shared her enthusiasm for the project, expressing her pride in creating a platform for challenging and intelligent conversations without adhering to a single viewpoint.
