Married at First Sight Australia 2022‘s Ella Ding has responded to backlash after publishing medical misinformation following her suggestion that “mindfulness” can cure terminal illnesses.
ICYMI: In a recent episode of her podcast Sit With Us (co-hosted by Domenica Calarco), Ella referred to Dr Joe Dispenza, whom she claimed has “cured patients without chemotherapy” by “train[ing] them to just imagine not being sick”.
However, Dr Dispenza is not a practising medical doctor. He has a doctorate in chiropractic and holds a Bachelor of Science degree. He’s also been heavily criticised for publishing medical misinformation.
Ella also alleged her friend’s mum travelled to Mexico and did a “four-month cleanse that actually did get rid of her breast cancer with no chemo”.
Of course, people were quick to slam the “dangerous”, unsubstantiated claims, including MAFS 2023 bride Lyndall Grace, who suffers from cystic fibrosis.
Now, Ella has responded to the backlash in the Sit With Us Facebook group, after a fan questioned the sentiments she was sharing.
What did Ella Ding say about her comments on the Sit With Us podcast?
The concerned fan wrote: “I am a huge believer of a healthy mind = a healthy body.
“However, saying that they cure terminal illnesses is not it and spreading misinformation,” they added. “Love the poddy but wondering if you’ll speak on this?”
Ella quickly responded by saying she “didn’t say you can” cure illness with mindfulness, “but that people have and there are many stories online and in research out there”.
She then said she was contemplating inviting her friend’s mother onto the podcast “to share her story”.
“As our platform is a place we share experiences, never saying to do what we say,” Ella explained.
“Definitely not saying you can cure cancer, referencing Dr Joe Dispenza who is a doctor and neuroscientist who helps heal people through the power of their mind.”
She concluded: “Of course I will say on the podcast like all of our experience, we share not to do or follow but to take things with a grain of salt or however you would like to.”
Ella Ding admits she didn’t properly research Dr Joe Dispenza’s career before referencing him
Another Sit With Us fan replied to Ella’s response to inform her that Dr Dispenza isn’t a literal medical doctor.
“For what it’s worth, Dr Joe Dispenza isn’t a doctor (MD) or neuroscientist.” they penned. “He has a doctorate in chiropractic science and from what I can tell he has no actual formal qualification in neuroscience.”
Ella then admitted she hasn’t “done extensive digging into his degrees”.
“This is all so interesting!! I mean gosh I can only back myself by what I’ve read and learnt from his stuff online over the years,” she wrote.
This response didn’t take well with onlookers, who took to Instagram to slam the “ill-considered” content.
“Ohhhh, they are listening to someone unqualified to give comment and passing it on,” The Bachelorette‘s Cam Cranley wrote.
“Check @biolayne for an example of how to reference scientific reviews for a stronger statement.”
Another said: “Whenever someone says ‘the research out there’, they immediately lose credibility. Out where? YouTube?”
“Neuroplasticity is NOT synonymous with chemical intervention,” a third explained. “Dr Dispenza talks to the former, not about boycotting interventions.
“What a reach.”
Other fans even went as far as to label Ella, “Belle Gibson 2.0″.
“This is Belle Gibson again and remember what happened with her?” they wrote. “People died. People who could have lived if they had had medical intervention. They died. Children died.”
Gibson infamously built a lucrative social media empire after claiming she cured her brain cancer with natural and alternative therapies and nutrition and was later found to have faked her illness.
Want even more goss? Listen to the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
