got some reasons ♪ ♪ that we could leave right now ♪ ♪ i know there's none left for me ♪ ♪ but i just need to find out ♪ ♪ the future's coming for me and there's no breaking free ♪ ♪ time's the winner when fear's got you nailed to a tree ♪ ♪ the only way up for me is to break down ♪ ♪ [ cheers and applause ] this is nightline. tonight. breaking news. american teacher mark fogel, who the u.s. says was wrongfully detained in russia for three and a half years, freed and back on

american soil at last meeting with president trump at the white house. plus, weight loss wars. >> obesity is america's deadliest epidemic. >> the super bowl commercials seen everywhere. causing backlash from lawmakers and drug companies. why so many are flocking to medications that aren't fda approved. >> it is technically legal to get a compounded version of semaglutide. >> the weight loss drug revolution showing no signs of slowing down. ozempic, wegovy and manjaro are. >> drugs experiencing a big surge in use for weight loss. >> should you or shouldn't you? and mr. beast. >> welcome to beast games. >> the most subscribed to youtuber ever. >> you know, i'm basically expected every video to make, like, the craziest video that has ever been made. >> back at it with outrageous contests and prizes like millions of dollars, a lamborghini and a private island. >> someone wins the largest cash prize in the history of anything. >> opening up about his life in a rare interview.

>> i don't want to look back when i'm 70 and be like, dang, like i wish i did more. >> and the shocking thing his mother said to him as a child. plus, 40 years after starring on general hospital, demi moore and john stamos have a heartwarming john stamos have a heartwarming on stage reunion. when winter season hits emergen-c supports your immune system with so much more than vitamin c. be ready to fight back with emergen-c and for on-the-go immune support try emergen-c crystals. no water needed. hank used to suffer from what felt like a cold & flu medicine hangover in the morning. ha ha. haha! then he switched to mucinex nightshift. mucinex is uniquely formulated to leave your system faster, so you wake up ready to go. uhh, hank! try mucinex nightshift and feel the difference.

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tonight. breaking news. the first images of pennsylvania teacher mark fogel smiling, finally free visiting the white house. >> i feel like the luckiest man on earth right now. and. you to know that i am not a hero in this at all. and president trump is a hero. these men that came from the diplomatic service are heroes. >> fogel spent the last three and a half years in a russian prison. the state department saying last year he was wrongfully detained. airport video from 2021 shows a police dog flagging fogle's luggage, leading to a search. his family says he was carrying a small amount of medically prescribed marijuana, but he was sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony. the white house says fogel was freed as part of an exchange with russia. but tonight, president trump, not saying what the u.s. gave in return.

>> what were the terms of this deal, mr. president? >> very fair, very, very fair. >> adding that there's a need to end the war in ukraine and that there will be more announcements tomorrow. we'll have much more on mark fogel's return to american soil on gma in the morning. for now, we switch gears and turn to an examination of the weight loss wars, the high cost of some medications, opening the door for other companies to step in with less expensive options. but are they safe. here's abc's deborah roberts. >> obesity is america's deadliest epidemic. >> this is america. >> 74% of us are overweight. >> in the weight loss wars. this hims and hers commercial making a superbowl sized splash. >> the system wasn't built to help us. it was built to keep us sick and stuck. >> the ad taking aim at the weight loss industry and touting the company's own versions of drugs used for weight loss as a less expensive alternative to glp one. medications like

ozempic and wegovy. >> they are affordable. doctor trusted. >> hims and hers. the company at the center of the controversy selling in addition to brand name drugs, compounded drugs, copies of fda approved medications that don't go through the same rigorous fda evaluation as the approved drug. >> it is technically legal to get a compounded version of semaglutide, and that is because there is a shortage of these medications. >> the controversy surrounding the super bowl ad is just the latest chapter in a craze that has been sweeping not just hollywood. >> but stay right here. >> television icon oprah winfrey revealing she is using medication for weight loss. >> but the entire country. >> ozempic, wegovy and manjaro are drugs experiencing a big surge in use for weight loss. >> every girl i know in la is on ozempic. >> so many dramatic weight loss transformations happening right before our eyes. >> i lost 2 pounds this week. >> the hims and hers super bowl

ad reigniting the conversation surrounding compounded drugs used for weight loss. >> fda approved medications go through a very rigorous protocol to bring the drugs to market. compounded products haven't been through the same level of really rigorous, rigorous study for many years. enrolling thousands and thousands of patients. >> the fda, writing on its website that compounded drugs are not fda approved. quote, this means the agency does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality. but it's what was missing in the ad that's causing an uproar, both with drug companies and congress. two senators saying in a letter to the fda, nowhere in this promotion is there any side effect, disclosure, risk or safety information as would be typically required in a pharmaceutical advertisement. >> it was an ad that might appeal to the emotions of people

who sometimes feel like they're at the end of their rope, and might feel some kind of emotional tie to an ad that promises quite a bit. that makes it seem easy, that makes it seem affordable. all the things that that any person would look for but does not, you know, make sure that the public is aware that this is something that they should stop and think about. >> novo nordisk, makers of the fda approved ozempic and will be releasing this ad in response to the backlash, writing, do you really know what you're injecting into your body? >> these are products that are compounded. they are not regulated. they are not approved and therefore constitute a significant safety concern to the public. >> hims and hers defending their ad. >> this is americans affected by a medical disease and it's getting worse. and i don't believe the company did anything wrong. there are very strict laws on what you need to say in a commercial and what not. i do believe in this commercial. no drug was ever mentioned by name. >> the company's head of weight

loss saying every batch of their compounded drugs goes through an analysis before ever being sent to a patient. >> the batch that you have, you can look in the app and get a comprehensive look at all the tests that are included. hims and hers is able to give your full, comprehensive approach. they have recipes. we have education put together by psychologists on top of all the other pieces. having a clinician available to be messaged 24 over seven. >> since they've become widely available, newer types of glp one drugs have been transforming lives. stephanie smith says she feels more confident than ever working out side by side with her husband. since starting on monjaro. weight loss for me has definitely been life changing. i knew that being in my 40s and gaining 45 pounds and struggling to get it off, i was headed down a pretty unhealthy path. but now, just because i feel good, i

have a lot more self-confidence. >> her doctor prescribing the medication to treat obesity. she took it weekly for nearly five months. >> my body was hurting. i couldn't do the physical activities that i wanted to do. like, i knew i had to do something dramatic. >> a former bodybuilder, she never thought she'd end up struggling with her weight. >> i didn't like to look in the mirror. i didn't like to close shop. i would try and go swimming with my kids. hated putting on a swimsuit. hated going on vacation to the beach with my family. so it was it was tough. okay, so when i saw you last time, we decreased your dose. >> a nurse practitioner in draper, utah, stephanie runs a med spa with the pilates studio attached. >> okay. any issues with diet? no. >> did you get the labs that i sent you? >> yes. okay. they look amazing. all right, just come have a seat. we offer compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide, and i also prescribe manjaro, ozempic,

wegovy and the new ones at bound. >> at her medspa. she says business is booming with scores of patients hoping to take drugs used for weight loss. she says she's happy to offer them the alternative. >> any side effects? constipation. nausea? no puking? >> no stephanie saying she relies on a reputable compounding pharmacy. and so far, she reports no issues. >> we have an armamentarium of medications that can be used for obesity that are very effective, so definitely not a one size fits all approach. it has to be very thoughtful. and then, you know, obesity treatment is long term because this is a chronic disease. so it's absolutely critical to find a care team that you really trust. and you build a relationship with. >> like all drugs these can come with side effects. >> the main side effects associated with both wegovy and with set bound are nausea, vomiting, stomach upset,

constipation, diarrhea. >> now 48, stephanie says she's able to keep the weight off with only an occasional maintenance dose of compounded tirzepatide. in the end, whether patients choose to take the brand name, fda approved drugs or the compounded version, experts recommend that patients do their homework before taking any medication and consult with a doctor. >> you know, i think most people don't recognize that obesity is really a complex, heterogeneous, progressive, refractory, meaning difficult to treat disease and so to treat obesity effectively. it's incredibly important to see a provider who is well trained in obesity medicine and can do a thorough evaluation of every individual patient. >> our thanks to deborah for much more on this story. watch impact by nightline, skinny confessions after ozempic, streaming now on hulu. when we

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>> conan o'brien. sunday, march 2nd. live on abc and hulu. >> welcome finding homes for homeless dogs, prosthetics for amputees and cash and lamborghinis for winning contestants. it's all in a day's work for beast games creator mrbeast, who rarely grants interviews but sat down with our will reeve.

>> how do you define success? >> well, at the end of the day, it's the audience entertained. whichever one of you leaves last wins half $1 million. >> at just 26 years old, mrbeast real name jimmy donaldson is dominating youtube. >> i somehow have. >> unrestricted access to all the great pyramids of egypt. >> how did this all come to be? >> i just started making videos when i was 11, and i'm 26 now, and we went from ten views a video to 100 views to a thousand views, a video, and now over 100 million people watch it. it's not expecting this. >> the self-made viral superstar is known for his ambitious, over-the-top videos. >> here's a credit card. you can spend whatever you want. but if you go over the limit, you don't get anything. >> filmed all over the world. >> we are. >> spending the next seven days in this massive. >> underground city inviting willing participants. >> everyone. >> put your right hand on the car. >> you compete in dramatic and challenging stunts. >> come on. >> to win big money. now,

mrbeast has over 360 million subscribers and a loyal fan base. >> when we first upload a video, sometimes we'll do 4 or 5 million views in the first hour. >> and with more followers, brings more opportunity to monetize his name and brand. today he's got a burger franchise, a line of chocolate bars, and a snack brand. >> you are able to get basically anyone you want to join you in your videos. you've gotten tom brady, cristiano ronaldo. >> yeah. well tom brady, i just text him. i will literally film with ronaldo as he walks to the bathroom. like, i know this is like a busy man. the big thing is when we film with these athletes, i just try to make sure it's very easy, painless. >> what, if any, pressure do you feel knowing how many people, especially young people, are watching what you do? >> a lot. i recognize we have, you know, a lot of people that look up to us. you know, i'm basically expected every video to make like the craziest video that has ever been made and to consistently do it. and so it's

definitely a lot. >> his expertise at always upping the ante on everything he touches. >> he just won this shot. >> to the factory. >> it's all. >> mine is on full display in beast games. >> welcome to. >> beast games. >> his new show on amazon prime, which amazon says is the streamer's most watched unscripted show ever. >> beast games is the largest cash prize in entertainment history with the largest sets. i mean, we literally built a city just to house the contestants in between the games. >> the reality game show features a thousand contestants competing in nail biting physical, mental, and social challenges. the finalists, now vying for a potential $10 million jackpot. >> the rules. >> of this. >> game are. >> very simple. >> the winnings include over-the-top prizes like a lamborghini sports car, $5 million, even a private island. the show's finale just days away. >> can we get some spoilers? >> someone wins the largest cash prize in the history of anything. it will blow your mind. it's like the set and everything in the game and the psychology of it. it's really good. i'm very excited to see

people's reactions. >> there have been allegations along the way. >> mrbeast and amazon are facing a lawsuit. >> over a new reality competition. >> mrbeast's production company and amazon hit with a proposed class action lawsuit filed in the fall by six anonymous contestants who claim sexual harassment, that they were misled and that the show exploited them. >> they say they were in unreasonable, unsafe and unlawful employment conditions. how do you respond to that? >> i got to let the lawyers handle that. i can't comment on it, but i can say i've personally talked to 7 or 800 contestants. they all want to come back. they all had a great time. and you can watch their content online. and i think it speaks for itself. >> we reached out to amazon prime, who replied, they're not commenting at this time. a spokesperson for mrbeast telling abc news that the lawsuit, which was filed last september and hasn't achieved class action status, still hasn't been served. but despite the controversy, giving back is central to mrbeast's brand. he even has a separate channel dedicated to philanthropy. >> we wanted to give you $50,000

to put towards college. >> whether it's helping 2000 amputees walk again with prosthetics, building and giving away 100 houses. >> here's the keys. >> oh my god. >> for finding homes for 100 shelter dogs. >> how do you respond to any critics who might say that's a facade or that's that he's hiding behind this spirit of altruism? really? he just wants to get rich? >> yes, i do enjoy building businesses and want to make money, but i also enjoy helping people and have a net positive impact. >> he's combining both these interests in his chocolate company, feastables. >> most of the world's cocoa comes from west africa, and almost half the labor on farms over there is child labor. and i was like, oh, this is a problem. if you don't want child labor, you have to pay your farmers more. so 100% of feastables farmers are paid a living income. >> and he's even sparking chatter over his desire to help purchase tiktok. >> america deserves tiktok. give me a seat at the table. >> how real is that bid for tiktok? >> i don't have the tens of

billions of dollars to do it, but we're working with people who do. >> the mrbeast company today, 400 people strong. and though he's now a sought after content creator, he says, growing up, he didn't fit in. >> what were you like as a kid? >> i thought it was a freak, but i was just in the wrong environment. and when you put me in the right environment, you know, it's like amazing. and so i would use that as inspiration for your kids, you know, like, if they don't fit in, there might just be around the wrong people. that was the case for me. >> even his mother expressing doubts about his future in those early days. >> my mom was like, do your homework. do something. please don't be homeless. so she, like, didn't understand what i was chasing after and she thought i would just lost my mind, you know? were you married? >> yes. >> today, his success extended to his personal life. mrbeast finding his beauty. >> i recently got engaged. >> congratulations. >> thank you. i didn't post about it right away because i was like, i wonder if i want to keep this to the side. but then i was thinking, my whole life is on the internet. i mean, millions of people know every little thing about me.

>> our thanks to will the beast games finale airs on amazon prime february 13th. when we come back, demi moore and john stamos together on stage 40 years after general hospital. the award he presented to his former costar. [♪] do you own a dishwasher, but only use it for storage or as a drying rack? get better results than hand washing, with your dishwasher and cascade complete. your dishwasher does the work for you, with temperatures up to 140 degrees - too hot for hands. some dishwashers even have a sanitizing cycle. load pots, pans and tableware at the bottom, with plastic and glassware on top. cascade complete removes visible and invisible residue, for virtually spot-free and shiny dishes. switch to your dishwasher, and cascade complete. (woman) purina one true instinct unlocked her true instincts. from day one, it's high-protein nutrition with real meat #1, supporting her healthy energy and strong muscles.

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abc and hulu. >> and finally tonight, the reunion. 40 years in the making. demi moore and john stamos on stage together at the aarp 2025 movies for grownups awards. stamos presenting his former general hospital costar with the

best actress statue for her role as elizabeth sparkle in the substance. moore has received wide acclaim for the film, taking home a golden globe and critics choice award. she's also in line for her first oscar. >> to anyone. >> who has. >> ever felt like time is working against them, i hope that this film and this moment serves as a reminder that we don't fade, we evolve. >> bravo. that's nightline. you can watch all of our full episodes on hulu. we'll see you right back here, same time tomorrow. thanks for staying up with us. good night. america. >> people do not know how to date. that's why they come to us. >> as a matchmaker. we're here to help you get your wings on. >> let's get some people married. why are you single? maybe the kind of guys that i go for. you go for hot guys? yeah, it's a pitfall. >> what would you say are like the top things you're looking for? >> you don't like hairy men, so all muslims are out.