Kathy Bates is defending her weight loss journey.

Over the past seven years, the 77-year-old Oscar-winning actress has lost 100 pounds in an effort to manage her Type 2 diabetes.

Continue reading to discover more…Kathy previously shared that the first 80 pounds were shed through lifestyle changes and diet, while the last 20 pounds were thanks to Ozempic.

While speaking to Variety, Kathy responded to critics of her weight loss method.

“People say, ‘Well, it was the Ozempic,’” Kathy began. “F–k you, it was the Ozempic! It took me years to do this. I got this diagnosis about diabetes — my father died of it; his mother died of it; one of my sisters is in peril. When they said ‘diabetes,’ I figured out what to do to slowly, over years, to lose the weight.”

“And then when Ozempic came along, I was able to lose the last 15 to 20 pounds and keep it off,” she added.

Kathy went on to express that the “juxtaposition” of her weight loss and the success of her show Matlock is “just unbelievable.”

“I finally feel like I’m who I am,” she shared. “I’ve fought my way through the rapids.”

Kathy, who is nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the CBS series at the 2025 Emmy Awards, said that she became emotional when her stylist presented her with several gowns to wear to the awards ceremony.

She had a beautiful dress for me to try. I looked at it on the hanger, and I thought, ‘That’s not gonna fit.’ I put it on, and it fit, and I just melted down,” Kathy recalled.

“I just started crying and crying. I’m still figuring out what it’s like to be without all of that weight,” she continued. “What was it for? What was I hiding myself from? What are the emotions that are pouring out because I don’t have that armor? It just really surprised me, really shocked me.”

Find out when season two of Matlock premieres on CBS!