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Disgraced celebrity chef Pete Evans is back in business after going under the radar for a couple of years after a series of scandals derailed his multi-million dollar career.
The 50-year-old former TV star had all but faded into obscurity due to controversies stemming from his anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.
But Evans, who made a name for himself hosting My Kitchen Rules, is being mercilessly mocked for his comeback venture and the huge amounts he charges for courses.
A ‘fasting retreat’, in which participants pay $2,500 to ‘not eat’, has received particularly strong criticism and a healthy dose of skepticism.
Pete Evans (pictured) is back in business after lying low for a couple of years following a series of scandals.
After being banned from major social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, Evans now communicates with his fans via Telegram, an encrypted messaging app that conspiracy theorists often use to broadcast their beliefs.
‘Hey, I’ve got a quick update for you, we’re going to be launching another fasting retreat at the end of February, so we’ll probably announce it tonight or tomorrow or post it on the website, so if anyone’s interested in coming, we’d love to. have you,” Evans said on Telegram.
“Our guests are on the fourth day of their fast right now and they went through a breathing ceremony this morning and it’s pretty special.
“We’ve had some wonderful transformations, so yeah, I love seeing you all. I’ll put the details in a post tonight, see ya.”
$1,500 will get you a spot at a two-night ‘Breathing Retreat’ in early February, but that might be a bargain compared to the $2,750 it costs for a two-night $1 million ‘Wellness Retreat’ downtown nearby. from Byron Bay in northern NSW which he purchased in 2021.
It’s unknown how much money his appeal to customers has raised, but it’s certainly drawn some laughs and boos.
‘I wonder if these cups wake up on the second day? Take some really deep breaths. And realize they’ve been played for fools,” said a commenter on the Facebook page Blocked by Pete Evans.
“Even if they realized it was a load of crap they would tell all their friends how amazing it all was,” said another.
Pete Evans holds expensive ‘Wellness Retreats’ at $1 million center (pictured) near Byron Bay that he bought in 2021
Pete Evans (pictured) speaking in Hyde Park Sydney at the anti-vaccine march against mandatory covid vaccinations
There was also some praise for Evans, though he may have been a bit sarcastic in tone.
‘Credit where credits expire. Fasting Retreat!!! That’s an unbelievable fucking scam. Good for him a bit,’ said one.
Evans’ use of the word ‘transformations’ in his spruiking annoyed many commenters, with one suggesting that it meant ‘Your bank accounts are transforming from having money to having no money’.
Another said: ‘I want to know what they turned into. A lot of dust?
The answer, according to another poster, is “I guess they hold their breath until they pass out and think they’ve had an out-of-body experience.”
Once a star of the small screen, Pete Evans (pictured) has all but faded into obscurity in recent years following a series of controversies stemming from his belief in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.
Pete Evans, pictured left to right, has been teased for how much he seems to have aged in recent years.
The whole ‘don’t eat’ thing kept confusing users.
‘Isn’t being a chef your only qualification? Imagine giving the guy a lot of money and not even getting a meal,” said one.
His comeback attempt comes after Evans was sensationally written off of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! at the last minute for posting a neo-Nazi meme on Facebook in November 2020.
Within 24 hours it was rejected by Channel 10, its publisher Pan Macmillan, and retailers Big W and Dymocks.
He offered an apology to those offended by his racist social media post, telling Daily Mail Australia at the time: “I apologize to anyone who took it out of context.”
The series of shocking scandals has been estimated to have cost Evans millions, and it will take many ‘fasting withdrawal’ courses to recoup lost income.