Actress Delta Burke has always been candid about her lifelong battle with weight, but she recently took things to a whole new level by revealing an alarming chapter from her past. In a candid conversation on the "Glamorous Trash" podcast, Delta, now 67, admitted to turning to crystal meth in the '80s as a desperate attempt to lose weight. It’s a story that’s both shocking and deeply personal, offering fans an intimate look at the pressures of Hollywood in its rawest form.
From Weight Loss Pills to Crystal Meth: Delta Burke's Dark Days
Delta appeared on the April 19 episode of the "Glamorous Trash" podcast, hosted by the vibrant Chelsea Devantez. She recounted her early days in the entertainment industry, specifically her time on the short-lived dramedy "Filthy Rich," which aired from 1982 to 1983. During this period, Delta was already using weight loss pills, which she affectionately referred to as "Black Beauties." These pills were her go-to method to suppress her appetite. She would take them in the morning, ensuring she wouldn’t eat throughout the day. "They were like medicine to me," she confessed, emphasizing how dependent she had become on them.
When Pills No Longer Worked: The Turn to Methamphetamine
But as the body inevitably builds tolerance, Delta soon found that the pills weren’t delivering the same results. It was then that someone on the set of "Filthy Rich" suggested a more extreme method—methamphetamine. "Nobody knew about crystal meth at the time," Delta shared with Chelsea. "They told me, 'You chop it up. You snort it.' I said, 'I don’t want to snort it.'" Determined yet fearful, Delta found her own way to ingest the drug—mixing it into cranberry juice. "I drank it and wouldn’t eat for five days," she recalled, her voice heavy with the weight of those memories.
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Even after using meth, the criticisms didn’t stop. "They were still saying, 'Your butt’s too big. Your legs are too big.' And I now look back at those pictures and go, 'I was a freaking goddess,'" Delta admitted, her tone filled with a mix of disbelief and nostalgia.
The Rise of Suzanne Sugarbaker and the Weight of Criticism
Delta’s career soared when she landed the role of the unforgettable Suzanne Sugarbaker on "Designing Women." From 1986 to 1991, she graced our screens with her charm and wit, but behind the scenes, the weight of criticism was becoming unbearable. "I thought I was stronger. I tried very hard to defend myself against lies and all the ugliness that was there and I wasn’t gonna win," Delta revealed. "I’m just an actress, you know. I don’t have any power." The scrutiny became so intense that Delta admitted to changing her body language, hunching over in an attempt to "disappear" from the harsh spotlight.
"Hollywood will mess your head up. And I had always thought, 'I want to be a famous actress.' I thought that meant that you would be a famous and well-respected actress, but that’s not what it meant," Delta confessed. "The moment I became famous, it was like, 'Oh no, no, no. This is not what I had in mind at all. I don’t think I want to be this anymore.' But then it’s too late."
Falling Out and Moving On: Delta's Journey of Self-Discovery
Delta’s departure from "Designing Women" in 1991 was not without its controversies. In a 1990 interview with "60 Minutes," she described the set as a "difficult, unpleasant workplace." After leaving, she claimed to have been subjected to "psychological abuse" and relentless bullying over her weight. Producers and costars, however, painted a different picture, attributing her changed demeanor to her relationship with husband Gerald McRaney. "Immediately after Delta started dating Gerald, there was a marked change in her relationship with all of us," producer Doug Jackson told "TV Guide." Delta, however, dismissed these claims during her podcast appearance, asserting that they weren’t true.
Today, Delta reflects on her journey with gratitude. "I love my life truly for the first time. And I love him desperately," she said of Gerald, with whom she’s shared 35 years of marriage. "I know that I’m safe and I’m loved. I didn’t feel that there," referring to her time on "Designing Women." Though she had grand aspirations, Delta acknowledges that she didn’t get to be the person she wanted to be during those years. Yet, she has found peace and contentment in her current life, away from the unforgiving glare of Hollywood.
