Pete Evans slammed for bizarre Insta post: ‘Have some respect’

Pete Evans’ latest bizarre social media post about coronavirus has some asking him to consider the 500,000 people who’ve died from the virus.

Former My Kitchen Rules star Pete Evans is copping criticism for his latest Instagram post suggesting the coronavirus pandemic is a hoax.

As global cases reach 10.3 million and deaths pass the 500,000 mark, Evans shared a meme comparing a ferocious T-Rex from Jurassic Park to the cuddly children’s entertainer Barney the dinosaur: “Covid according to the media / covid in real life.”

Evans captioned the pic with a love heart and rainbow emoji.

But even among his loyal Instagram followers, the post was met with a mixed response.

“Thousands of people have died – have some respect,” wrote one person under the post.

“I don't know if people who have lost loved ones to covid would think this,” said another.

Others, however, praised Evans for telling the “truth” about the deadly virus, which shows no signs of slowing down as it sweeps across the globe.

Over on Twitter – usually a sceptical audience for Evans’ recent conversion into full-blown conspiracy theorist – the former TV chef’s name trending once more as people mocked the post:

I must have missed the episode where Barney killed more than 500,000 people around the world pic.twitter.com/6wfd5tzcCW

— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) June 29, 2020

So this is what ‘Chef Pete Evans’ aka Polio Pete thinks of the 500k humans who lost their lives due to #COVID-19, let alone their families and those still suffering... what a piece of garbage human he is pic.twitter.com/ErOMMTjR6M

— Danielle Richter (@DanEdgePod) June 29, 2020

Every time I see Pete Evans trending i'm thinking pic.twitter.com/HIrNTDmsXO

— Anastascia11 (@Anastascia111) June 29, 2020

“It's programmed with a thousand different recipes and there's a couple in there for the Wuhan coronavirus."

Those $15k light machines either really worked or Pete Evans just admitted they were a scam. pic.twitter.com/pEc1OXXiks

— Ash Marshall (@APM83) June 29, 2020

Pete Evans was selling a food processor with disco lights for...*checks notes* $15,000... probably not the best person to get advice your public health analysis from...#justsayin pic.twitter.com/d8tHgEfcW8

— Seano (@SeanBradbery) June 29, 2020

As some pointed out, it wasn’t too long ago Evans was flogging a $15,000 ‘light frequency machine’ that he said could fight the deadly coronavirus. That’s a lot of money to pay to fight a disease that’s, according to Evans now, as harmless as Barney the dinosaur.

This is the latest in a string of coronavirus conspiracy theories Evans has posted to social media in recent months.

Binge is Australia’s new streaming service offering the best drama, entertainment and movies from the world’s best creators. New to Binge? Get your two week free trial, sign up at binge.com.au

The TV chef parted ways with Channel 7 in March, having appeared on every season of My Kitchen Rules since 2010. Industry site TV Blackbox claimed “the separation was an amicable decision” and that Evans will now focus on his ‘alternative lifestyle’ empire. Since the split, Evans has sat down for a controversial interview with Nine’s 60 Minutes program, and posted increasingly strange conspiracy theories to his quarter-million strong Instagram following.