Pete Evans’ most unusual beliefs, posts and claims he’s had over the years
Celebrity chef Pete Evans has taken aim at Black Lives Matters protesters in his most outlandish post yet. Here’s a look at his biggest controversies.
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Celebrity chef Pete Evans has taken aim at Black Lives Matters protesters in his most outlandish post yet.
The My Kitchen Rules star mockingly asked protesters to “tear down those 5G towers” “instead of tearing down old statues” in a meme on his Instagram story.
The 47-year-old’s unamusing request follows anti-racism advocates pulling down slave trader and confederate leader statues in the UK and US in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
It has prompted widespread calls on social media to remove statues considered offensive to Indigenous Australians on home soil.
Evans’ post is the latest in a series of controversial opinions, messages and claims.
Evans said he was suspicious of science because “it had been bought by vested interests in so many different fields over the years” during a 60 Minutes interview this month, telling interviewer Liz Hayes he would not be vaccinated against COVID-19 if, and when, a vaccine was found.
He also made headlines for claiming a $15,000 light “Bio Charger” he sold via his website could cure COVID-19.
Here are some of Evans’ most bizarre posts, opinions and claims yet.
LIGHT MACHINE CURING COVID-19
In April, Evans claimed a $15,000 light machine to recharge the body could treat “Wuhan coronavirus” with light ‘recipes’.
The BioCharger NG Subtle Energy Platform was being retailed on his website for $14,990 and claimed to be a “subtle energy revitalisation platform. Four transmitted energies stimulate and invigorate the entire body to optimise and improve potential health, wellness, and athletic performance”.
“It’s programmed with a thousand different recipes and there’s a couple in there for the Wuhan coronavirus,” Evans said in a lifestream on his Facebook page on April 9.
Evans came under a wrath of criticism and has since been slapped with two infringement fines totalling $25,200 from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
TGA said in a statement “claims that the device could be used in relation to ‘Wuhan coronavirus’ … has no apparent foundation … which the TGA takes extremely seriously”.
“Any claim that references COVID-19 is a restricted representation under therapeutic goods legislation, and is of significant concern to the TGA given the heightened public concern about the pandemic”.
THE NEW STRAIN OF CORONAVIRUS: ‘I AM SCEPTICAL’
In a 60 Minutes interview with Hayes this month, Evans said he would not take a coronavirus vaccine but insisted he was “a big proponent of vaccines”.
Evans told Hayes he approached most issues with “a very healthy scepticism” – sometimes veering towards “suspicion.”
When asked whether he believed the coronavirus conspiracy theory that billionaire Bill Gates was responsible for the virus, which Evans shared on social media, he said: “I don’t know. I don’t know. 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 …
“And am I fearful of COVID-19, if I came into contact with anybody [who has it]? No I’m not, because I believe in who I am and my ability to stay as healthy as I can through anything.
“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.
“I could I could very easily disappear … If I disappear in a weird freakin’ accident, it wasn’t an accident, OK?”
US RIOTS: A LARGER SCHEME OF THE ELITE
Evans sparked further outrage on social media stating the riots across the US in the wake of the death of George Floyd are part of a media conspiracy staged by “the elite” in a bid to distract citizens from the coronavirus pandemic.
“Do not mistake rioters with protesters, there is plenty of evidence showing you that the riots were instigated by organisations affiliated with the elite,” Evans’ post read.
“It is no accident that videos of police brutality have suddenly gone viral. I hope you see the pattern. Stay vigilant, be prepared, don’t fall for the new world agenda. And once again think, it’s not illegal yet.
“We are waking up, and the elite are afraid.”
The post followed his endorsement of US President Donald Trump’s threats to use the military against BLM protesters.
EVANS’ PLEA TO QUESTION VACCINATIONS
In May, Evans told Kyle and Jackie O Show listeners to question the vaccines during the coronavirus pandemic after being invited on the show.
He began questioning the rules designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, such as new legislation requesting visitors, staff and contractors to receive a flu injection before visiting the elderly in aged care facilities.
While he did not describe himself as an anti-vaxxer, Evans said he was “pro choice for medical freedom”.
He has also previously linked vaccinations to causing autism, despite any medical evidence supporting the theory.
Evans took to social media to urge his followers to sign a petition to remove the legislation ordering Australians to receive the flu jab before visiting aged care facilities.
FLUORIDATED WATER LOWERS THE UNBORN BABY’S IQ
In 2019, News Corp reported Evans welcomed a study revealing there was an “apparent association” between mums who drank fluoridated water and lower IQ scores in their children.
Pregnant women were advised to only drink filtered water by some experts as a result.
The study tracked the fluoride intake of 512 mothers across six Canadian cities and then tested the IQ of their offspring when the kids were between the ages of three and four.
News Corp reported the results were inconsistent, and the report’s authors said they did not necessarily show cause and effect.
Mums who were found to have a greater presence of fluoride in their urine while pregnant were associated with a 4.5-point lower IQ score in boys but not girls.
Mums who self-reported a higher consumption of fluoridated water while pregnant were associated with a 3.7 lower IQ score among both boys and girls.
GAZING INTO THE SUN IS MEDICALLY BENEFICIAL
In 2018, Evans took to his social media to inform his followers “a brief gaze into the radiant light of the early rising or late setting Sun” is one of the best forms of free medicine.
Evans said he also loved to immerse himself in an experience within the cleansing ocean water in a post on his Instagram page.
“These simple, yet powerful practices have got to be two of the best forms of free medicine on the planet for body, mind and spirit,” the post read.
This information should not be followed as staring into the sun causes eye damage.
“I think it’s hilarious that people are advocating that we shouldn’t appreciate a sunrise or a sunset,” he said in an interview withNews Corp.
“I mean, how warped is the reality of the world where medical professions are saying don’t look at a sunrise or a sunset because it could be bad for your health?”
EVANS’ CALCIUM, FLUORIDE, SUNSCREEN CLAIMS
In 2017, The Guardian reported repeated his claims dairy stripped calcium from bones, fluoride did not prevent cavities and sunscreen was toxic.
His comments were on an interview on Seven’s Sunday Night current affairs program, which was watched by 1.4 million people.
“What do you need a qualification for to talk common sense?” Evans told the reporter.
“Why do you have to study something that is outdated, that is industry-backed that is biased, that is not getting the results? That would be insane to study something that you’re gonna waste your time with? That’s just crazy, it’s just crazy.”
The Guardian reported the TV star said he was doing the interview with his own network to set the record straight about his diet and lifestyle advice and to defend himself against “media lies”.
As a result, Evans came under fire from the Australian Medical Association, who accused him of endangering lives with his unscientific advice.
The Guardian reported Evans advised a woman with osteoporosis to cut dairy from her diet due to evidence dairy removed calcium from bones.
“We have shared that information in the Paleo Way program and you can read it in many different scientific journals as well,” he said on Seven in 2017.
“It’s just a known fact. It’s a myth to think that drinking cow’s milk is the be-all-and-end-all for calcium intake.
“The calcium dairy myth is the best piece of marketing I’ve ever heard and they [the medical profession] are going to hold on to that for grim life.
“I’ll send you the studies, there is a mountain of evidence out there.”
BONE BROTH IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO OFF-THE-SHELF BABY FORMULA
In 2016, Evans co-authored a paleo cookbook called Bubba Yum Yum: The Paleo Way for Mums, Bubs and Toddlers.
It was a book pulled from print and investigated by the Federal Health Department after recommending bone broth could be used in place of baby formula.
The recipe contained ingredients including chicken liver, oils and a probiotic supplement.
Dietitians and paediatricians expressed concern the broth “could potentially cause a vitamin A overdose in infants”.
As a result, the recipe was revised and advice stating it should not be fed to children under six months followed.
However, Dietitians Association of Australia said the “new infant ‘brew’ could seriously harm babies” as it still contained 4.5 times the amount of Vitamin A recommended for infants.