Tara Reid double downed on her vehement denial that she is not suffering from an eating disorder, despite looking noticeably thinner than ever.
During an interview with Extra host Billy Bush, the 47-year-old actress spoke about her decision to ‘challenge’ herself by going on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test ‘to do something that’ she ‘never thought’ she could accomplish.
When asked if she had prepared enough for the grueling television series, in which stars are subjected to intense physical and mental tests, the New Jersey native said she was inspired after suffering from ‘years of pent-up’ anger from body-shaming.
‘No, they hired me three days before the show… So, I was not physically ready for it… The backpack was so heavy on me. I had no chance… It didn’t work so well,’ the American Pie alum.
Setting the record straight: Tara Reid double downed on her vehement denial that she is not suffering from an eating disorder, despite looking noticeably thinner than ever
As for whether she has been bullied, Reid insisted that she has been ridiculed a lot in her life, ‘usually about’ her body or being ‘too skinny.’
At this point, Bush inquires: ”Are you too skinny?’
‘It’s been going on for years, but there’s no eating disorder… I eat all the time — that’s not a problem for me,’ she replied.
Reid, then asks Bush, ‘You’ve known me for over 20 years, do I look any different?’
‘I think you look a little… too skinny. I’m gonna say that,’ he answered truthfully.
The performer went on to suggest that ‘maybe’ the chance of her appearance is because she’s ‘getting a little older and fragile.’
‘That’s what happens to older ladies,’ she insisted. ‘I don’t think people should be making comments. I don’t think they should be saying nasty things or whatever.’
Despite lasting only two days on Fox’s Special Forces, Reid said she ‘do it again if’ she ‘could start training right now.’
Gutsy: During an interview with Extra host Billy Bush, the 47-year-old actress spoke about her decision to ‘challenge’ herself by going on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test ‘to do something that’ she ‘never thought’ she could accomplish
Out of her comfort zone: When asked if she had prepared enough for the grueling television series, in which stars are subjected to intense physical and mental tests, the New Jersey native said she was inspired after suffering from ‘years of pent-up’ anger from body-shaming
Her latest comments come after setting the record straight that she has never had anorexia or bulimia during an interview with the Los Angeles Inquisitor.
‘I’m terrified of throwing up, so that’s not gonna happen. And I love food too much,’ she told the outlet.
Reid added: ‘So anyone that says I’m anorexic or bulimic, they’re wrong. So stop it. Leave me alone. Pick on me again on something else, but not on those two things. It’s not right.’
The performer also said the persistent speculation about her weight is a form of bullying that led her to a dark place.
That is part of the reason she decided to take part in Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
The Sharknado actress joined the cast of the military training competition to ‘get over certain issues that she has deep inside.’
‘I thought if I could do this, try this, maybe I can get over some of the things that I have, like, the darkness inside of me,’ she shared. ‘And a lot of it’s about bullying.’
Her latest comments come after setting the record straight that she has never had anorexia or bulimia during an interview with the Los Angeles Inquisitor (seen in 2018)
And while she was the first competitor to exit the show, she has no regrets.
‘I’m so glad I did it because it really did help me. It made me learn my strength, my mental strength, my inner strength – not necessarily my physical strength,’ she said.
‘But I learned a lot about myself, and I came back feeling like a better person.’
And Tara was surprised by the overwhelming positive support she received from fans in DMs that told her she did a great job and they were proud of her.
Back in the day: Tara (pictured above in 2003) has always been slim
Heyday: Tara’s career in Hollywood got off to a promising start in the late nineties
‘And I would read them out loud with Nate, my boyfriend, and we were crying at moments because it felt so good because I never felt that support.’
Tara also took the time to address the fans who reached out to he and lifted her spirits.
‘Thank you for making me feel good again. Because you can’t write back everyone – it’s too hard – but I wanted to make a statement. Thank you to everyone that supported me and made me feel better and really made me want to be a better person.
‘I appreciated every single comment that every single fan said, and I just want to say thank you to all of them.’
