Coronavirus Australia: Miranda Kerr slammed for ‘dangerous’ and ‘irresponsible’ advice
Miranda Kerr and other celebrities with millions of social media followers should “exercise some personal responsibility” and stay away from posting ‘misleading’ and ‘dangerous’ advice on COVID-19 to social media, Australia’s national GP body has said.
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The backlash against Aussie model and businesswoman Miranda Kerr – who promoted the advice of a controversial “medical medium” to her 12 million Instagram followers – continues with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) issuing a statement warning people to be mindful of misinformation.
On Sunday, Kerr was slammed on the social media platform for spreading the “dangerous’’ and “irresponsible’’ advice of Anthony William – who has said his advice comes from “communication with gods’’ and that celery juice is the greatest healing tonic of all time.
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The former Victoria’s Secret angel and skincare brand owner spruiked Williams’ “Virus Protection’’ guide as having useful advice on how to ward off the coronavirus COVID-19.
Williams has no medical qualifications.
RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon said that all social media users should be wary of what they were reading.
“I encourage all Australians to apply a ‘sniff test’ to posts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like and ask themselves whether the information is reliable and trustworthy,” he said.
“The best sources of information on COVID-19 include the RACGP website and the official health.gov.au website, not Miranda Kerr’s Instagram account.
Dr Nespolon said that social media “influencers” and people with large followings should self-regulate what they were posting.
“I call on people such as Miranda Kerr, who have extraordinary numbers of social media followers, to exercise some personal responsibility.
“If you aren’t a healthcare professional you shouldn’t be handing out free medical advice, leave that to the experts.
“If you want to encourage people to wash their hands that is fine, but advising social media followers that they can avoid COVID-19 by not eating eggs is not helpful.
“No one can be sure what will be required in Australia in coming months to limit the damage of COVID-19 but I can reliably tell you that the answer doesn’t lie in listening to a ‘medical medium’ such as Anthony William.”
Kerr, the wife of billionaire Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel and mum of three, was not met with the usual adoration from her followers upon sharing William’s manual.
British NHS doctor Joshua Wolrich commented: “ABSOLUTELY NOT. Do better with your influence. This ‘virus protection’ guide is full of unscientific nonsense that has ZERO medical validity … Misinformation is dangerous. Stop spreading it.”
Hundreds of commenters echoed Dr Wolrich’s disapproval of Kerr sharing the subject matter, calling it “dangerous”, “tone deaf”, “irresponsible” and “shameful”.
They also pointed out that William has no medical qualifications and was spreading harmful misinformation.
The 33-page guide Kerr promoted primarily focuses on foods to avoid and prioritise. It claims eggs are the main products people should avoid eating because they are “the number one food viruses like to feed on”.
William also prescribes celery juice and cucumber juice to fend off viruses as well as elderberry syrup, thyme tea and nine different supplements including cat’s claw and lemon balm.
A fake letter purporting to be from federal and Victorian health ministers Greg Hunt and Jenny Mikakos has also been circulating on social media concerning school closures in Victoria.
Australian Medical Association NSW President Dr Kean-Seng Lim said the spreading of such disinformation at a time when evidence- based advice is crucial can be fatal.
“Disinformation is dangerous because it can lead people to do the wrong thing or delay seeking advice,” he said.
“Staying at home drinking celery juice might actually delay you from doing something that is actually going to work, such as seeking qualified medical treatment.
“In times of uncertainty it is very easy for disinformation to get started and this can actually be very dangerous as it causes confusion and panic.
“And if we are going to get through this coronavirus epidemic successfully we all need to be following good evidence-based advice.”
The Daily Telegraph has contacted Kerr for comment.
Originally published as Coronavirus Australia: Miranda Kerr slammed for ‘dangerous’ and ‘irresponsible’ advice
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