Randy Jackson recently made his return to American Idol. However, fans recently shared their concerns after taking note of his appearance on the show. Taking to social media, other fans felt that the issue had a simple explanation.
Former Judge Randy Jackson Returned As A Guest Mentor On American Idol
Jackson is a record executive and musician. However, he is best known to many as one of the original judges on American Idol. Fans have always loved him and his iconic phrase, “It’s gonna be a no from me, dawg.” This eventually went on to be a very popular meme and GIF, with Jackson always being a presence somewhere.
Jackson’s original run on the show lasted from 2002 to 2013. Yet, he has continued to make guest appearances on the show in the ensuing years.
During a recent episode, the former judge surprised fans as a guest mentor for Season 24’s Top 5 contestants. Viewers saw him meet with and critique finalists during rehearsals.
However, since his appearance, fans grew concerned after seeing him on the show. Notably, Jackson appeared to have lost a significant amount of weight.
As previously reported, fans have been sharing similar concerns over Jackson for quite some time. Two years prior, he sparked similar concerns after an appearance on Name That Tune. Back in 2002, Jackson was also diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. A year later, he decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery.
Some Fans Think The Change In Jackson’s Appearance Was Only Natural, While Others Were Worried For Him
It was hard to see how much Jackson had changed. Taking to Reddit, a 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.”
That said, not all fans were too worried about Jackson’s look. Noting that it had been over a decade since his time as a judge, some felt that he was just aging.
‘American Idol’ star Randy Jackson, 69, sparks concern with major weight loss after health battle https://t.co/rfWl9nhMgE pic.twitter.com/Zll5X70Vs2
— New York Post (@nypost) May 15, 2026
Taking to the comments, fans shared mixed feelings over the story. Some were concerned, while others thought that the change in Jackson’s appearance was only natural. A few comments included:
- “It’s been thirteen years since he was a judge, and this is what ‘mid-fifties to late sixties’ looks like for quite a lot of people.”
- “He looks frail and can he not walk? Sitting in chair when meeting everyone.”
- “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.”
- “Diabetes can make you lose weight also. A friend of ours had it & was really frail looking. Sadly.”
- “Maybe he had some health issues he didn’t talk about maybe a mild stroke or he fell recently I’m not assuming anything because health issues aren’t made to joke about but that’s my theory.”
What is your reaction to this recent discussion? Have you been following this story? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest reality TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
