Trigger Warning: This article contains depictions relating to Neo-Nazism.
There has been a lot of talk about celebrity chef and now former My Kitchen Rules host, Pete Evans.
The controversial reality star has not only lost his high-paying judging gig on the Channel 7 series but has positioned himself as a problematic self-styled health guru.
Update: November 16, 2020
Pan Macmillan Australia is “finalising” its relationship with Pete Evans after he posted a Neo-Nazi meme on social media.
In a statement, the publishing house wrote: “Pan Macmillan does not support the recent posts made by Pete Evans. Those views are not our views as a company or the views of our staff. Pan Macmillan is currently finalising its contractual relationship with Pete Evans and as such will not be entering any further publishing agreements moving forward.”
Retailers were also urged to contact the company if they wished to return Evan’s books to the publisher.
— Pan Macmillan Aus (@MacmillanAus) November 16, 2020
Pete Evans Under Fire for Sharing Neo-Nazi Meme on Social Media
Update: November 16, 2020
Over the weekend, Pete Evans shared a meme on his social media which featured a symbol associated with Nazism.
The cartoon shows a caterpillar wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat speaking to a butterfly and telling it “You’ve changed”, while the insect replies with: “We’re supposed to.”
Evans captioned the image: “An oldie but a Goldie [sic] There are many different interpretations of this image. Peace and love to all always.”
The inside of the butterfly wings has the Black Sun logo imprinted which was a symbol used by the Nazis in Germany and is also used by neo-Nazis and neo-fascists in modern times.
When a social media user commented on the symbolism, Evans responded: “I was waiting for someone to see that,” a comment which has since been deleted.
Following other Facebook users negative response to the image, Evans wrote: “It is fascinating that an image can represent so many things to so many. For many it is a representation that we are all evolving from one thing to another,” before adding, “Others see white supremacy or nazism (which is something I definitely do not align with).”
According to Gizmodo, the image was recently shared on a Nordic Neo-Nazi website.
Over the weekend, Twitter was set alight with people calling for Woolworths, Coles and Pan Macmillan, who publishes Evan’s books, to remove their alliance with him and his products.
Pete Evans Urged to Retract “Unacceptable” Comments About the Late Dr Nespolon
Update: October 20, 2020
On October 20, Pete Evans came under fire for more controversial comments, this time surrounding the death of Dr Harry Nespolon, 57 — the President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners — who died in July.
Speaking on Facebook Live, Evans said it was “very sad” what happened to him but then spoke against people in “positions of power” who succumb to the very disease they are experts in.
“[But] when you have people in positions of power or experts in their chosen field of medicine, that still do not know how to deal with disease and illness, that still succumb to these diseases and illnesses yet they are the experts in these chosen industries may speak volumes,” he said.
“I’m not here to say that I know how to beat cancer,” he added.
“I’m not saying that I know how to put anything into remission, but a lot of people have been able to go through this process by looking at things through that lens, of modern medicine, and it’s what I’ve always promoted.”
“The combination of looking using every single tool that we have at our disposal. Ancient wisdom, natural medicine, modern medicine, spiritual medicine and everything else that is available to us to go on this journey to learn more about ourselves.”
Evans then took a swipe at the mainstream media calling them “puppets”, especially those that “laughed and ridiculed him”.
“Two months later that doctor passed away. Pancreatic cancer. Condolences to his family,” he said.
“The amount of people that we have helped come through cancer through looking at a holistic lens, holistic means embracing modern medicine as well as natural medicine.
“The amount of people we have helped get off pharmaceutical drugs. The amount of people that have reversed their terminal illnesses, that have no longer auto-immune disease, that have put things into remission or severely reduced their medication, the amount of people that are no longer depressed or suffer anxiety through looking through a holistic lens. I wish that doctor had have (had) the courage to have a chat. I’d never met him.”
Back in May, Dr Nespolon said that Evan’s Instagram posts were “the oddest things I have ever read” on Bed Fordham’s 2GB radio show while also expressing concern over the former MKR host’s mental state.
Responding to the comments, Evans said that if the doctor had been “so concerned” over his mental “maybe he should have given me a call or invited me to have a conversation.”
Acting President of the RACGP, Ayman Shenouda, called Evan’s comments “completely unacceptable” and urged him to “retract” the statements made.
“He should immediately retract them and apologise to the late Dr Harry Nespolon’s family,” he told news.com.au.
“Harry was a great man who is sorely missed by many people, including me. Even when he was given a terminal cancer diagnosis, Harry continued to fight and provide outstanding leadership until he could no longer hold on.
“I promised that I would find a way to honour his work and advocacy and that includes defending his legacy from the likes of Pete Evans. Harry deserves far better than this. Hang your head in shame Mr Evans.”
Celebrity Chef Pete Evans Says “There Is No Pandemic” In New Social Media Posts
Update: June 29, 2020
Pete Evans has posted that “there is no pandemic” on his social media accounts.
The former MKR host has shared memes questioning the authenticity of the coronavirus which has swept the globe over the past months.
One meme claimed the virus was “so deadly that media and government have to fabricate death numbers to make people believe it’s real” while another said it was “less deadly than the flu” which has widely been supported by scientific evidence.
Evans even threw it to his followers, asking them if “this was the biggest scandemic in history”.
A final one had a religious tone which heralded his anti-vaccination roots read:
“And then God said to Abraham: Dude, I totally screwed up when I made the immune system. I’m going to need you to inject diseases and toxins beginning at birth.”
Celebrity Chef Pete Evans Played 60 Minutes “Like a Game of Chess”
Update: June 10, 2020
Pete Evans appearance on Channel 9’s 60 Minutes on Sunday, June 7, has ruffled more than a few feathers.
In the segment, Evans was profiled as part of a wider story about conspiracy theories surrounding the coronavirus, with some of his more prominent views on the matter kept mum.
He insisted that he was an “a big proponent of vaccines”, however, chose not use them himself and approached most other issues with “a very healthy scepticism” and “suspicion”.
He also alluded to the fact that Bill Gates was behind the coronavirus, saying when asked about the theory: “I don’t know. I don’tknow. Because what Bill is suggesting, and every single interview that he has done recently is suggesting that the world will not become safe until every single person on the planet has been vaccinated for this.”
To conclude the bizarre interview, Evans aired his concerns for his own personal safety.
“I could very easily disappear… If I disappear in a weird freakin’ accident, it wasn’t an accident, OK?” he said.
“There’s been too many coincidences out there in the world for people that have questioned certain things. Sometimes those people don’t last very long.”
On Tuesday, June 10, Evans responded to a fan on his Facebook page who questioned why the former chef would entrust the show.
“I trusted them to do what they do best — I hope that makes sense,” he responded. “This is a game of chess that I enjoy playing. Look at who they sent in to do the interview and how this has been perceived.”
The same time the segment aired, Evans uploaded the full, unedited version of the interview to YouTube via his Evolve YouTube page.
“We don’t have free to air tv so I will not be watching 60 Minutes tonight I trust they will do a wonder-filled story of hope and love and bringing the community together to evolve through this period… Enjoy the show and I invite you down the rabbit hole with me.”
WATCH: Pete Evans unedited and uncensored interview with 60 Minutes. Story continues…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5isp-KCf8Ow
Update: May 14, 2020
Evan’s views on health and nutrition have been increasingly seen as troublesome. He heavily promotes a serious paleo diet (hence the nickname ‘Paleo Pete’) which is backed by unscientific health claims — disproven by scientists and the Australian Medical Association.
Last month, Evans spruiked a $15,000 light machine on his social media, claiming that it could help fend off the coronavirus — only to be hit with a $25,200 fine by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
In the post, Evans promoted a three-hour-long video by a British conspiracy theorist, David Icke, who claimed that COVID-19 was “a fake pandemic with no virus” and linked infections to 5G antenna installations.
According to the Daily Mail, one of Australia’s leading doctors, Dr Harry Nespolon, expressed his concern for the chef after he shared more bizarre conspiracy theories online.
The President of the Royal Australian College of GPs suggested that the former TV host should seek medical help after Evans posted a lengthy message condemning mainstream media for its reporting of the global pandemic.
Evans also questioned the agenda of the “experts”, encouraging his 230k Instagram followers to “manifest their own reality”.
Then, in another post, Evans shared a detailed list of “code words” people should look out for in the media, implying that “mass trials” and “executions” were happening behind closed doors.
“Soon you will hear about certain high profile people (celebrities, politicians, executives, elite, billionaires) having CV (coronavirus). Here are some code words to look out for,” it read (see the post below).
“Self Quarantined = under house arrest either under Federal agent guards or ankle bracelet. Self Quarantined, CV exposure = detained and being questioned by authorities. Tested negative for CV = no confession so they are going to trial after world mass arrest. If convicted their reputation and legacy will be destroyed.
“Tested positive for CV = they confessed and taking a deal, their execution will be out of the public eye. Execution will be portrayed as suicide or some sort of accidental death. Their reputation and legacy will be preserved.”
“Remember, these people are being arrested for major crimes against humanity. NO PITY.
“Pay very close attention for these code words in the media.”
Speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB, Dr Nespolon said he was “keen” to ensure Evans was isolating with his family as losing an $800,000 contract could be affecting his mental health.
“If he really is in trouble, dare I say, he should make an appointment with his GP and I’m really quite serious about that,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter what he has done in the past, it really is important that we do take care of him and that we reach out to him if there is a problem,” he said, before saying: “If people actually follow what he (Pete Evans) has been promoting in the past — look for activated almonds it really doesn’t matter — but when it comes to giving people the view that they might be protected from the COVID-19 virus that can potentially be a real problem,’ he said.
In response, Evans took to his official Facebook page (and 1.4 million followers), expressing thanks and assuring fans that he was “happy” and “enjoying life”.
“I have the most robust health (physical, emotional and spiritual) ever at the age of almost 47 years, and currently do not take any medications/pharmaceuticals,” before adding, “I have some wonderful friends that are great integrative/functional medical doctors, so if I ever need any ‘help’, I know who to go and see.”
On Mother’s Day, Evans shared a photograph of his mum, Joy, with her grandchildren, revealing that he embraces her every time they see one another.
“I will continue to give you a hug and a kiss every single f$&@”n time I see you like I have over the last few months (unless YOU say no), [sic]” he captioned the post.
While the list of social media controversies continue, this isn’t the first, and dare we say last time, that “Paleo Pete” will make headlines for his beliefs.
In 2014, the chef claimed that the paleo diet can prevent autism, and then, the following year, his book was pulled from shelves due to its bone broth recipe for infants.
Then, in July 2016, Evans claimed that vegan women should eat meat during pregnancy, advised against “normal” sunscreen due to having “poisonous chemicals” and claimed that Wi-Fi was “extremely dangerous”.
Later that same year, he also claimed that camel milk could supplement breastfeeding and people with osteoporosis shouldn’t eat dairy.
In 2017, Evans campaigned against the “mass fluoridation of public water” saying that he “strongly believe that if people want to add fluoride to their drinking water then they should, but it should be a choice that each person has the ability and the right to make for their own household.”
Then, in 2018, he revealed he looked directly into the sun, as a “simple, yet powerful practice” which is the best form of “free medicine on the planet for body, mind and spirit.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrdpKeiFxSL/?utm_source=ig_embed
While we continue to wrap our heads around Evans’ theories, it’s important to make well-informed decisions based on information provided by actual health officials.
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
The current health crisis is evolving rapidly. If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.