Ella Ding, Domenica Calarco AND their podcast network, LiSTNR, have issued statements regarding “dangerous” comments made on their Sit With Us podcast.
ICYMI: Former Married at First Sight Australia bride Ella recently suggested that “mindfulness” can cure “terminal illness”, and referenced a friend’s mother who allegedly did a “four-month cleanse that actually did get rid of her breast cancer with no chemo”.
This, coupled with Ella’s source being Dr Joe Dispenza (who isn’t a qualified medical doctor), copped backlash en masse across social media.
While the 29-year-old doubled down on her comments in the Sit With Us Facebook group, she has since released a more formal explanation of her sentiments.
“Just touching base regarding our latest podcast on Sit With Us, where we talked about POSITIVITY and GRATITUDE,” she penned on her Instagram Story.
“In this podcast, I made mention of a personal family friend and her experience with cancer. This was not meant as advice, it was me relaying a story I personally witnessed and saw the effects of.”
Ella added that while she is “personally excited by Dr Joe’s findings”, she was “not intending to provide any medical treatment or advice”.
“Nor am I qualified to do so.”
Ella Ding says she ‘take[s] full accountability’ for Sit With Us commentary
Addressing the backlash on July 15, Ella said she “acknowledge[s] and take[s] full accountability” for not making the abovementioned “clearer”.
“I understand that I should have reminded listeners to always seek professional medical advice in relation to medical conditions, or before making any medical decisions,” she shared.
“I will ensure that I am more careful in the future when sharing information and stories in relation to these sorts of topics.”
Ella, who is reported to host the second season of Love Triangle, said that she hopes any “loyal follower” is aware that “everything I say or do comes from a good place”.
“Life is about lessons and how we choose to learn or grow from them. And from this, I will.”
LiSTNR addresses Ella Ding’s comments on Sit With Us
Following concern over the Sit With Us podcast, LiSTNR, who recently acquired Ella and Dom’s passion project, provided So Dramatic! with a statement that echoed that of Ella’s Story.
It read: “In the episode, Ella and Dom spoke about the power of positive thinking and gratitude in dealing with many issues and opportunities in life.
“During the episode, Ella referred to the experiences of a friend’s mother and discusses Dr Joe Dispenza’s book in which he claims to have cured cancer in some patients without chemotherapy.
“The episode has received several comments expressing concern about the risk of spreading misinformation about medical matters.”
“Ella and Dom are not medically qualified and were not purporting to provide medical advice nor to promote any product, service, treatment, or medical professional to treat any medical condition. However, they appreciate the feedback this episode has received and will take care in future to avoid creating any misunderstanding about health or medical issues.
“While Ella and Dom believe strongly in the power of positive thinking and gratitude, they also believe that people with health issues should seek advice and treatment from qualified medical professionals.”
Domenica Calarco responds to backlash over Ella Ding’s comments on the Sit With Us podcast
Though far less formally, Domenica also addressed the backlash via Instagram comments.
Replying to one user who wrote about her own cancer experience, Domenica said she has “seen close loved ones go through the disease [her]self”.
“The content in which the in total article [sic] and conversation was around a very warped understanding of what was actually said,” she wrote.
“Of course a way of thinking should never be your medical treatment for a disease such as cancer. The episode was around positive thinking and how it can potentially help going through difficult times.”
A second Instagram user said it was “scary to think young girls/boys will follow her utter tripe”.
Domenica, 30, said “comments like this saddens” her.
“Because I know our incredible Sit With Us listeners and community are the most well informed and intelligent group of people who would always do what is best for them when it comes to their own lives.”
What did Ella Ding actually say that Domenica Calarco believes received a ‘warped understanding’?
In the Sit With Us episode — titled “Practising Gratitude” — that dropped on July 5, Ella claimed that “your mind can kill you”.
“It can make you sick,” Ella said. “If you’re sick in whatever way it may be, whether it’s with illness, if you have cancer, or if you have depression, you can literally make yourself sicker by focussing on how sick you are.
“You can then end up terminally ill.”
She then referred to Dr Joe Dispenza, a well-known lecturer on neuroscience and quantum physics who has a doctorate in chiropractics.
“If you are unwell, whether it be terminal or not, read Dr Joe Dispenza’s book, How To Rewire Your Brain [sic],” Ella noted, before alleging he has “hundreds of case studies of people who were sick with cancer”.
“He literally trained them to just imagine not being sick, imagine the cancer is leaving your body, imagine the cells are going away…
“He’s literally cured patients without chemotherapy.”
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