Kelly Clarkson’s Weight Loss Journey Sparks HR Clash, Leaves Team Feeling ‘Heartbroken

Kelly Clarkson’s resilience is notable, but her recent dispute with human resources over remarks following her 60-pound weight loss has highlighted deeper issues at her daytime talk show.

During a performance at Etess Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Clarkson, who is 43, shared her struggles with adhering to some of the strict HR guidelines at NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show.

When a fan complimented her appearance, calling her ‘sexy’ on stage, the singer and mother of two admitted feeling frustrated about having to suppress similar compliments in her workplace.

‘Every HR meeting I attend, I wonder, “How am I still employed?”’ she confessed. ‘They say you can’t comment on someone’s attractiveness, and I think that’s ridiculous,’ she expressed.

‘Some people out there are really putting in the effort, and I wish everyone passing by would think, “Wow. Great job,”’ she added, referencing her recent weight loss journey.

The former American Idol star also disclosed that an HR official had reprimanded her after she complimented a colleague on their transformation.

‘They were like, “Well, it might make people feel bad that they looked bad before.” I was fat before, so I’m saying I want you to say, “Damn,”‘ she told her fans.

To Clarkson, her comment was intended to be high praise, especially after going through her own weight loss journey, in which she lost 60 pounds with the help of weight loss medication.

And she explained to the audience there’s ‘nothing wrong’ with anyone’s body and that she felt ‘very confident’ when she was heavier.

However, according to an insider close to the singer, Clarkson’s latest rant against the daytime series was ‘ungrateful’ towards her hardworking staff amid speculation that she’s planning on leaving the show altogether.

‘Kelly Clarkson is ungrateful, and she fails to recognize how her staff uprooted their lives in Los Angeles and left their homes to relocate to New York because they believed in her and they loved working for her,’ the source exclusively told DailyMail.com.

The Since U Been Gone singer’s recent comments come off the tails of her mysterious absence from hosting duties earlier this year. 

Clarkson missed several episodes of her eponymous talk show in March for what was described as a ‘personal matter.’ Since then, rumors have swirled that the musician is looking to quit The Kelly Clarkson Show when her contract expires next year.

Clarkson has also made subtle remarks about her demanding schedule, and how her daytime TV job has prevented her from going on tour.

While performing for fans at the concert venue in Atlantic City over the weekend, the singer told the crowd that she hasn’t ‘done a show in a while’ because of the talk show.

‘It’s like a whole other job,’ she said, per Page Six.

‘We are bummed ’cause we love doing shows, and it’s hard to fit it in, so it’s cool when it does work out with the schedule.’

Clarkson also admitted that being a single mother to her daughter River, 10, and son Remy, nine, who she shares with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, already keeps her busy.

Despite her desire to get back on the stage, the source went on to reveal that Clarkson’s indifference towards her daytime show has left her staff feeling ‘abandoned’ and ‘disrespected.’

‘For her to abandon her own show and then come out months later and say that she did not agree with the way that HR handled comments she made about weight is incredibly disrespectful,’ the insider said.

Undoubtedly, Clarkson has been very open with fans over the years about her health journey and issues with her body image.

In June 2020, Clarkson filed from divorce from Blackstock after seven years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized in March 2022

In May 2024, she admitted to using a weight loss drug after fans began to notice her physical transformation. During an episode of her show, Clarkson told viewers that doctors insisted she take a weight loss medication following the results of a blood test.

‘My doctor chased me for like two years and I was like, ‘No, I’m afraid of it. I already have thyroid problems, I was afraid,’ she said about her initial hesitancy towards side effects of the drug.

Clarkson admitted the medication she takes is ‘something that aids in helping break down the sugar,’ as her ‘body doesn’t do it right.’

Addressing speculation that she was using Ozempic, she added: ‘Everybody thinks it’s Ozempic, it’s not – it’s something else.’

The reason why Clarkson finally decided to come clean about her weight loss was because she felt backed into a corner and realized she could no longer ‘dupe’ her fans with tales of simply eating healthy and exercising, source revealed to DailyMail.com at the time.

After all, Clarkson has gained a reputation for being relatable and making her viewers feel like they’re one and the same. Perhaps that’s why she was so taken aback by HR’s complaints about her recent weight loss comments.

‘Kelly’s appeal was that she was relatable. She made people laugh and she made people feel good about themselves. She has struggled with weight loss and it was a big part of her story,’ the source continued.

‘But suddenly she loses all her weight in an over a short period of time and now it feels like she is focused solely on her image. Kelly has caused heartbreak among staff.’

Now, NBC could be gearing up to replace Clarkson after her contract runs out. And ongoing speculation has tapped beloved network anchor Hoda Kotb as her potential successor.

The 60-year-old Today show co-anchor exited the morning news program after a 26-year career with NBC. But months later, network executives are reportedly considering Kotb as Clarkson’s replacement, according to Page Six.

‘There’s a long list of names and Hoda is part of that list,’ the source told the outlet.