Margaret Cho Reflects on Weight Loss Journey and Embarrassing Stage Incident

Margaret Cho shared her experience of sacrificing her “all white” wardrobe and even her car due to weight loss medication she took years ago.

During a recent episode of the podcast “How to Fail at Elizabeth Day,” the comedian recounted a particularly embarrassing moment when she lost control of her bowel movements on stage after taking an unnamed weight loss drug.

“I started taking medication to remove fat from the food I ate,” the 57-year-old actress recalled, vividly describing her body’s output as “like pepperoni fat on a pizza.”

She explained how this incident unfolded during a performance where she was feeling particularly confident in her white outfit. “It was just oil, so it started to come out—grease, really. Orange grease started gushing out,” Cho remembered.

Despite the mishap, she completed her set and received a standing ovation. However, all she could think about was hiding. “I got a standing ovation and they wanted an encore, but all I could do was stand behind the curtain,” she said.

Cho was grateful to find that no one was backstage, allowing her to remove her stained pants in private.

She described crouching behind the curtain to ease her cramps and noted the “orange oil” that was left behind, mentioning it could have an unpleasant odor.

Feeling the need to cover her tracks, she put her pants back on, thinking about the “too much evidence” it would leave if she didn’t, and then hurried to her car while the audience continued to applaud.

As she drove away, she noticed a large orange stain on her front seat that she couldn’t clean. This unfortunate incident led her to buy a new car.

Though Cho recounted the experience with a mix of tears and laughter, she admitted feeling truly upset and disgusted by what had happened.

This incident, dating back to around 2000, prompted her to stop taking the medication, after which she tried other weight loss strategies.

In a 2020 interview, Cho opened up about the harmful beauty standards in Hollywood that have had lasting impacts on many women. She reflected on how societal pressures led her into a cycle of self-hatred, something she wished she could have overcome to enjoy life more fully.

Cho previously mentioned losing 30 pounds in just two weeks in 1994 through a combination of diet and intense fear.

It was later revealed that she suffered from kidney failure and had to be hospitalized while filming “All American Girl.”

If you or someone you know is dealing with issues related to eating disorders, please reach out to the National Eating Disorders Alliance at 866-662-1235.