Celebrity fitness trainer Jillian Michaels responded Monday after being labeled a “white nationalist” by New York Times contributor Wajahat Ali during a televised discussion following a deadly attack in Australia.
The exchange occurred during a segment of “Piers Morgan Uncensored” that addressed the fatal shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
At least 15 people were killed Sunday when two gunmen opened fire during an event known as Chanukah by the Sea, where hundreds had gathered, according to officials and media reports.
During the discussion, Ali criticized Michaels’ comments about Islamic extremism, describing her arguments as outdated before accusing her of holding white nationalist views.
Michaels addressed the topic by drawing a distinction between extremist ideology and the broader Muslim population.
“What I’m trying to say is that when people are labeled Islamophobic, I think what they’re often reacting to is an ideology that is not aligned with the West — not the vast majority of Muslims. Even if it’s, say, 10 percent, that is still a large number of people, and those are statistics,” Michaels said.
Ali responded by referencing the attack and disputing Michaels’ framing.
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“Individuals who were radicalized, we don’t know how, and saw Jews as the target through their dehumanization. There are 1.7 billion Muslim people on earth. Jillian’s talking points are from 2001, which is why I yawned. The DeLorean right now is in 2025,” Ali said.
Ali continued by directly accusing Michaels.
“Jillian, I know you’re discovering this. Congratulations. Let me just finish. I let you say a lot of hateful, stupid, reckless things. Jillian. You are a white nationalist. By your own admission. That’s what you are, a white nationalist. You admitted it,” Ali said.
Michaels immediately challenged the accusation, citing her own background.
“You know I’m Arab, right? I’m Syrian and Lebanese and Turkish. When did I say I was a white nationalist?” Michaels asked.
Ali then questioned whether his claim was based on a previous clip.
“OK, wasn’t there a clip of you saying you were a white nationalist? Oh, you’re not a white nationalist?” Ali asked.
After Michaels again denied the allegation, Ali reversed his statement.
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“Interesting to know. All right. I’m under the mistaken impression. I thought you were a white nationalist. I’m glad you’re not,” Ali said.
Background information regarding Michaels’ family history has been publicly documented.
Her paternal grandparents were of Syrian and Lebanese origin, while her maternal grandfather was the son of Italian immigrants, according to IMDB.
Her maternal grandmother was born in Salford, England, to a Russian Jewish father and an Austrian Jewish mother.
There are no documented articles, profiles, or write-ups identifying Michaels as a white nationalist.
Ali is a writer who frequently focuses on topics related to the Muslim American experience, identity, and social justice.
He is a columnist for the Daily Beast and a former New York Times op-ed contributor whose work often addresses Islamophobia, race, immigration, and cultural inclusion.
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America is a Christian nation. Because we are a Christian nation it has bestowed upon us the freedoms and liberty’s that we all enjoy. Christianity is a religion that suggests how we should live and treat our fellow man. Islam is a cult. There is no suggestion, YOU WILL COMPLY, and the consequences of not,…are often met with brutality in predominantly moslem countries. Islam is diametrically. Opposed to our constitution. For years Muslims were not allowed to immigrate here and for good reason. They are not interested in assimilating, only conquering. Choices they do not agree with are not allowed. Certainly there are many moderates that do not agree, however they too will not go against the radicals out of fear. So if being a Christian, white, and proud of America makes me a white nationalist,…I will wear that badge proudly.
It’s ‘funny’ with these people that if a person doesn’t ‘kiss their buns’, they are considered to be anti-Islam.
Point out some terrorists affiliation with a Muslim group, etc., and that person is some kind of ‘white nationalist’, or some other appellation.
Can it be that what people actually DO see is what actually IS? Or must we be ” don’t believe your lying eyes”?
There are good, and there are bad, people in all groups and nations throughout the world.
Pointing out the ‘bad’ people is NOT being against a religion, a so-called ‘race’ ( we are all of the same ‘race’. It is called the HUMAN RACE! ), or nationality.
Just observing and reporting on the problem concerning those ‘bad guys’, no matter who they are, where they came from, their religion, or whatever, is NOT being against the whole ‘group’ of the people who came from where these ‘bad’ people came from.