Celebrity chef Pete Evans has found himself embroiled in controversy once more after making claims on a podcast about holistic medicine.
After facing criticism for his claims that 'hugging' and 'self-love' could be a vaccine for coronavirus, the former My Kitchen Rules judge has now come under fire for comments he made during the same interview about a late Australian doctor.
Former Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) President Dr Harry Nespolon died in July this year, nine months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
During an chat with Informed Medical Opinions Party candidate Allona Lahn, Evans made allusions that Dr Nespolon could have treated his cancer better.
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The Australian celebrity chef said: "I recently had, this year, the President of the Royal Australian College of GPs, a fellow called Harry Nespolon, he went onto Ben Fordham's 2GB talkshow radio [sic] and questioned my mental health.
"Two months later that doctor passed away. Pancreatic cancer. Condolences to his family.
"The amount of people that are no longer depressed or suffer anxiety through looking through a holistic lens. I wish that doctor had've had the courage to have a chat.
"It's very sad what happened to that gentleman, and I wish it never happened.
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"But when you have people that are 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're the experts in these chosen industries - may speak volumes."
Unsurprisingly, he's been criticised by the RACGP for making the comments.
Acting President Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda said Evans should retract his 'completely unacceptable' statement.
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"Harry was a great man who is sorely missed by many people, including me," Professor Shenouda said.
"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.
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"Hang your head in shame, Mr Evans."
Evans also said in the interview with Lahn that the coronavirus pandemic is well and truly over and anyone who says otherwise has an agenda.
He suggested that 'hugging' and 'self-love' could be better cures for Covid-19 than a vaccine, having advocated for people to be able to refuse getting the jab.
Featured Image Credit: Pete Evans/Instagram