Randy Jackson just returned to “American Idol” — and the former judge sparked both health concerns and support from fans.
Randy Jackson Returned to ‘American Idol’ for Class of 2006 X DWTS Night
On Monday, May 4, Jackson, 69, came back as a guest mentor for Class of 2006 X DWTS Night on the ABC singing competition series. Paula Abdul, 63, also returned to “American Idol” that night as a guest judge. The younger brother of the late Michael Jackson was an original judge from 2002 to 2013 (Seasons 1–12) alongside Abdul and Simon Cowell, 66.
‘American Idol’ Fans Expressed Concern for Randy Jackson
After seeing Jackson on “American Idol” on May 4, some viewers took to social media to share worries about his health. On Reddit, one fan wrote, “What is wrong with Randy Jackson? It looks as though he has aged 50 years in the last 5 years. Sorry if I missed something about his health, but it’s sad.”
A second Redditor echoed, “He looks frail, and can he not walk? Sitting in [a]chair when meeting everyone.”
Someone else agreed, pointing out, “Exactly. I was just going to post the same thing. Randy doesn’t look well. He looks weak and frail. He only sat. I hope he is OK!”
A different Reddit user speculated, “It’s more than weight loss surgery and being 70. Sad to see him like that, and I thought he and Paula were doing the coaching session. Guess not.”
Meanwhile, one X user wondered, “What’s going on with Randy Jackson? He looks sick. 😭.”
A second X user asked, “Randy Jackson is only 69 years old, why is he having trouble speaking? Is he perhaps losing too much weight, or maybe he’s sick tonight?”
Fans Also Showered Randy With Support
On TikTok, still more fans showed support for Jackson in response to a video asking about what’s “wrong” with him. One shared, “Folks don’t know what a person is going through. It’s so sad that folks have such a wicked tongue before knowing what he is going through. Randy🙏❤️.”
Someone else commented, “Remember, he had that gastric bypass surgery back in the day. Love Randy❤️❤️❤️❤️.”
Yet another TikTok user wrote, “How could ANYONE be mean to that man. He shaped pop culture in more ways than anyone will probably know.”
Randy Jackson Has Opened Up About His Weight Loss & Health
In 2000, Jackson was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, he shared in a 2018 Instagram post.
“I shouldn’t have been shocked to learn that I had diabetes, but I was,” he admitted in his 2008 book Body with Soul, per “Today.” “Yes, I was carrying about 350 pounds on my five-foot-eleven frame, and both my parents had had the disease, two factors that put you at risk for type 2 diabetes.”
In 2003, Jackson underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost 114 pounds. He told People in 2022 that the weight loss procedure was a “good jump starter. But ultimately, he made major changes to his diet and exercise regimens to maintain his progress.
Today, the word “diet” is taboo in Jackson’s vocabulary.
“I don’t use that anymore,” he explained. “Anybody that’s lost weight, you lose it, and then you start eating and drinking more, and it all starts coming back. That’s what started happening to me. I was like, ‘No, I’m not going to spend my life going through this.'”
Jackson went on to found a nutrition brand, Unify Health Labs, which focuses on gut health.
