The 97th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, 2025, delivered a night of glamour, nostalgia, and jaw-dropping headlines—but few moments sparked as much buzz as the stunning, yet polarizing, appearance of Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. The media mogul, 71, and the Ghost star, 69, left fans gasping as they stepped onto the Oscars stage, looking slimmer and more radiant than ever. Yet, their trimmer figures, achieved with the help of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, ignited a firestorm of reactions online, with fans dubbing the duo “a walking billboard for Ozempic”—a label that has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond.

The iconic pair reunited onstage to honor the late Quincy Jones, who died in November 2024 at age 91. Their emotional tribute, marking 40 years since they starred together in The Color Purple, was a poignant highlight of the evening. Jones, the legendary producer and composer behind the film’s score, left an indelible mark on their careers—and on cinema history. Dressed to kill, Oprah dazzled in a sleek black blazer paired with a shimmering maxi skirt and tie, while Whoopi turned heads in a metallic blue gown that gleamed under the red carpet lights. Their elegance was undeniable, but it was their transformed silhouettes that stole the show—and sparked a digital wildfire.Social media exploded with reactions, particularly on X, where fans couldn’t hold back their astonishment and opinions. “Whoopi sharing Oprah’s Ozempic stash?” one user quipped, while another declared, “The Ozempic did wonders for Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah—serving Ozempic opulence!” Others piled on, with comments like, “Didn’t expect the glam Whoopi brought! And the Ozempic her buddy Oprah gave her,” and “Whoopi and Oprah are straight-up Ozempic icons now.” The hashtag #OzempicOscars trended globally, with millions debating whether the stars’ reliance on GLP-1 medications—drugs originally designed for type 2 diabetes but now widely used for weight loss—overshadowed their heartfelt tribute.

Both Oprah and Whoopi have been candid about their weight-loss journeys. In 2023, Oprah shocked fans by admitting she used an undisclosed GLP-1 medication to shed nearly 50 pounds after decades of yo-yo dieting, reversing her earlier stance against such “easy fixes.” She recently shared on her podcast that the drug helped her understand “thin people” better, revealing that their perceived “willpower” was often just the absence of intrusive “food noise”—cravings and hunger thoughts that drive overeating. “They’re not even thinking about it,” she confessed, marveling at how Ozempic and similar drugs like Wegovy quieted those urges, allowing her to eat only when hungry and stop when full.

Whoopi, meanwhile, revealed in March 2023 on The View that she turned to Mounjaro after reaching 300 pounds, shedding weight to reclaim her health. At Paris Fashion Week earlier in 2025, she unveiled her dramatic makeover, stunning onlookers. “My weight has come and gone, but it’s never been an issue for me because I don’t listen to what others say,” she told viewers, pushing back against the stigma surrounding weight-loss drugs. “The key is to stop judging everybody.”

Yet, their Oscars moment has reignited that very judgment. Fans on X expressed a mix of awe and outrage, with some accusing the stars of promoting a “quick fix” culture, while others praised their transformation. “Oprah and Whoopi look incredible, but calling them Ozempic billboards feels harsh,” one user wrote, while another countered, “They’ve earned their glow-up—Ozempic or not, they’re legends.”

The controversy deepened as the pair delivered a touching tribute to Quincy Jones, celebrating his legacy as a musical genius and film pioneer. “When we talk about Black excellence, we’re talking about Quincy,” Whoopi said, her voice trembling with emotion. Oprah added, “My life changed forever after meeting him—he discovered me for The Color Purple, my first film.” Their words honored Jones’s seven Oscar nominations, including for The Color Purple, which earned Whoopi a Best Actress nod and Oprah a Best Supporting Actress nomination in 1986. But for many online, the focus shifted from their tribute to their transformed appearances—and the drugs behind them.

This Oscars moment has thrust Oprah and Whoopi into a cultural debate about weight-loss drugs, celebrity image, and Hollywood’s obsession with youth and perfection. Are they trailblazers for embracing modern medicine, or have they become unwitting symbols of a controversial trend? As #OzempicOscars continues to trend, one thing is clear: Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg’s dazzling Oscars appearance has left an indelible mark—whether as icons of inspiration or lightning rods for outrage.