Adele's former trainer addresses weight loss and "fat-phobic accusations" over photo that showed her transformation

Adele received widespread attention for a photo and message she posted on Instagram to mark her 32nd birthday this week. In the post, she praised frontline workers — but the photo is what sparked conversation online. The photo revealed that Adele has lost a significant amount of weight, and while many commenters praised her, others criticized the focus on her physical appearance. 

Now, Adele's former trainer, Pete Geracimo is speaking out about the star's transformation, saying it was "never about getting super skinny. It was about getting her healthy."

In an Instagram post on Thursday, Geracimo said "it's disheartening to read negative commentary and fat-phobic accusations questioning the genuineness of her amazing weight loss." 

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As Adele’s former London-based personal trainer, it’s disheartening to read negative commentary and fat-phobic accusations questioning the genuineness of her amazing weight loss. In my personal experience of working with her through many highs and lows, she always marched to the beat of her own drum on her own terms. She never undermined her God-given talent in any way. She let her incredible voice do the talking, or should I say singing! She never once pretended to be something that she wasn’t. What you saw was what you got. And we all LOVED it! When Adele and I started our journey together, it was never about getting super skinny. It was about getting her healthy. Especially post pregnancy and post surgery. When 25 dropped and the tour announced, we had to get ready for a 13 month gruelling schedule. In that time, she warmed to training and made better food choices. As a result, she lost considerable weight and people took notice. Her body transformation was splashed across every media outlet. The attention it generated was mind-blowing. Since she moved to LA, it’s been well documented that she underwent some tough personal changes. It’s only natural that with change comes a new sense of self and wanting to be your best possible version. She embraced better eating habits and committed to her fitness and “is sweating”! I could not be prouder or happier for her! This metamorphosis is not for album sales, publicity or to be a role model. She is doing it for herself and for Angelo. My hope is that people appreciate the hard work that Adele has done to improve herself for the benefit to her and her family only. She did not lose the weight to make others feel bad about themselves. This personal transformation has nothing to do with me or you. It’s about Adele and how she wants to live her life. She has not changed from the Adele we grew up with and have loved. There is just a little less of her to go around. #adele #fabulous #strong #songbird #transformation #powerful #voice #love #rumorhasit #pt

A post shared by Pete Geracimo (@petegeracimo) on May 7, 2020 at 10:14am PDT

The London-based trainer wrote that he worked with the singer post-pregnancy and post-surgery on a 13-month "grueling schedule." He said that with exercise and better food choices, Adele lost a considerable amount of weight and people took notice. 

"Her body transformation was splashed across every media outlet. The attention it generated was mind-blowing," Geracimo wrote. "Since she moved to LA, it's been well documented that she underwent some tough personal changes," he continued.

That attention swelled this week when Adele shared the photo of herself in a black dress. Many of the comments focused on her body — which struck the wrong note with some.

"I see that Adele is trending because people are saying how gorgeous she is since she lost weight. Y'all, we've been over this... Your weight doesn't determine your beauty. Your appearance doesn't determine your beauty. The number on the scale doesn't make you worthy or unworthy," blogger and disability activist Melissa Blake tweeted.

In Geracimo's Instagram post, he praised Adele's hard work and commitment to healthy eating and fitness. "This metamorphosis is not for album sales, publicity or to be a role model. She is doing it for herself and for [her son] Angelo," he wrote. 

The trainer hopes people appreciate that hard work, and understand that she did it for herself: "This personal transformation has nothing to do with me or you. It's about Adele and how she wants to live her life. She has not changed from the Adele we grew up with and have loved. There is just a little less of her to go around."

In a message to CBS News, Geracimo said he did not want to answer any questions about Adele. 

Caitlin O'Kane

Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift.

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