I didn’t have to hit rock bottom with my health to realize the true danger of the cult I had unwittingly become a part of. Others were not so lucky.
In the vast and often murky realm of the internet, communities can form around almost any belief system. Some are harmless, even helpful, while others can lead down dark and dangerous paths. The popularity of using social media to build connections over the years has led to a rise in the online presence of cults like Twin Flames Universe and The Mother God. My own journey in 2018 led me into the clutches of a figure known as the Medical Medium. What began as a search for community and healing ultimately spiraled into a nightmare of orthorexia and the occult.
It all started innocently enough. Through my vegan connections on Instagram I ended up following a young woman named Nicole Diaz. Her account, HolisticHustle (now disabled), had stunning visuals, high-quality recipe videos, and a vibrant portrayal of her life in Dubai. I was instantly drawn into her world and related to her content. She often made posts crediting her flawless complexion to the healing protocols of Anthony William, the self-proclaimed Medical Medium.
Who was this Medical Medium? What sets him apart from other health gurus? Could the answers I needed to clear my stubborn cystic acne really be the advice of this one man?
Now, normally I would roll my eyes at a man with a ponytail telling me to eat more fruit and vegetables, but Anthony’s methods seemed to be yielding results. Countless people swore by Medical Medium teachings, posting before and after photos claiming to have healed from eczema, psoriasis, chronic fatigue, autoimmune conditions, brain fog, PCOS, IBS, etc. You name it, Anthony cured it, so I took a chance and listened to an episode of the Medical Medium podcast. Instantly, Anthony’s words resonated with me. I found solace in the idea that my health woes could be explained by environmental factors and resolved with a specific regime of a whole-food plant-based diet. This is what I had been wanting to hear my whole life, that I had the power and control over my own health. His promises of healing through ‘spirit guidance’ also appealed to me because of my Christian upbringing; it was comforting to have someone confirm that there was a higher power guiding me towards wellness. But as I delved deeper into Anthony’s world, cracks began to appear.
The first red flag was the disproportionate number of women among his followers. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with targeting a specific demographic, it struck me as odd that the vast majority of his devotees were female. It made me wonder what it was about his message that appealed so strongly to women like myself. I would later learn the truth was much darker than anyone would have ever thought.
Despite my reservations, I was desperate and found myself drawn deeper into the Medical Medium’s orbit. The sense of support I received among the Medical Medium community was intoxicating, especially as I grappled with the stress and isolation of an abusive relationship. When Anthony himself liked one of my posts I felt the validation I was lacking in my personal life. Plus, the stress imposed by my abuser only heightened my vulnerability, making me crave an escape from reality even more.
As I immersed myself further in the Medical Medium’s world, my mental health began to decline rather quickly. His strict dietary protocols, based on dubious ‘spirit guidance,’ pushed me into a dangerous cycle of orthorexia. I became obsessed with ‘clean’ eating, terrified of consuming anything that wasn’t approved by Anthony himself. Everything to me was a toxin that I had to avoid or detox from. Everyday was practically the same: I drank celery juice every morning on an empty stomach, followed by a breakfast of watermelon, a heavy metal detox smoothie for lunch, and I ended the day with a Medical Medium recipe for dinner. I religiously tracked my progress, but something felt off. I didn’t see the same results that were constantly being posted on Instagram by my mutuals. I just needed to “stay consistent, it takes time,” they’d reassure me.
During the two years that I followed the Medical Medium protocols, I vividly remember Anthony bragging about the fact that he shared all of his information for free on his website, podcast, and social media, yet he was constantly promoting the sale of his latest book. Similarly, Anthony often made the claim that he wasn’t selling any of the supplements he recommended for optimal healing. As someone who frequented his website often, I can confirm that Anthony did not immediately disclose that he was profiting off of the sale of the supplements he was recommending. This is not uncommon among influencers even today, however, his website now reads “Anthony William, Inc. (AWI) participates in Amazon’s Associates Program, and as an Amazon Associate, AWI earns from qualifying purchases. AWI and its affiliates also receive income or other compensation from other vendors whose products are linked or mentioned on this Site.” A careful eye will also notice that the supplement company Vimergy makes up a significant amount of these products that Anthony promotes. Coincidentally, Vimergy was founded by good friends of Anthony, Paul and Casey McCluskey.
It wasn’t until Anthony appeared on an episode of Keeping Up with The Kardashians that I knew without a doubt this man did not care about people’s health nearly as much as he cared about money and fame. It left a sour taste in my mouth worse than the celery juice Anthony claimed to be a ‘cure all.’
In March of 2020 HolisticHustle did an Instagram Live (on her second account) to expose Medical Medium and share her personal experiences with Anthony. At the time the Medical Medium Instagram was following a handful of people —his favorites— and Nicole was one of them. While I was getting Anthony’s advice from his books and podcast episodes, Nicole was getting personalized health advice from Anthony, even exchanging text messages regularly. Many people in the Medical Medium community were paying hundreds of dollars for these types of coaching sessions from Anthony. During the live video, Nicole revealed that over time Anthony’s personal messages to her started to turn inappropriately flirty. And yes, Anthony is married. The amount of discomfort and disappointment Nicole expressed that she felt ultimately led her to end close contact with Anthony. However, at the time Nicole did not denounce his teachings altogether.
My mind was turning, overwhelmed with the information I just learned. I scrolled through the Medical Medium profile again. Seeing all the vulnerable women that Anthony reposted now made me feel sick to my stomach. In reaching out to other ex-members, I discovered countless other horrifying experiences of sexual harassment and even hospitalizations. Like myself, many of these women were lured in by the promise of healing, only to find themselves trapped in a web of manipulation and deceit, their mental and physical health declining over time. Thinking this was the worst of it I set out to move on with my life and hoped others would too. I trashed all of my Medical Medium books and slowly began to extricate myself from Anthony’s influence. It was a painful process to rewire my brain from its many food phobias, but ultimately liberating. Seems so trivial, but I’m thankful I can now go out to a restaurant without overwhelming anxiety about what oils are used to prepare my meal. Praise Jesus!
I didn’t think about Medical Medium much after that. By the end of the summer in 2020 I finally ended my tumultuous relationship and started my first job after graduating college. It wasn’t until the 2023 Vanity Fair article “The Medical Medium and the True Believer” that the old memories all came flooding back. For the first time, a major publication exposed the dangers lurking behind Anthony’s influence. I couldn’t believe it.
The article paints a vivid portrait of Anthony, the enigmatic figure at the center of the celery juice movement, and the fervent devotion he inspires among his followers. Every detail served as a stark reminder of the grip this online cult had on my own life. Most shockingly, the article tells the story of Stephanie Tisone, one of Anthony’s most loyal followers and how she died of breast cancer at the age of 38. I’ll let you read the article for yourself but it is very clear that in Stephanie’s last few weeks of life Anthony completely abandoned her, probably knowing it was a lost cause. Despite her resistance to conventional medicine Stephanie deserved better than that, especially from someone she respected and trusted so much. How does that saying go? “With great power comes great responsibility.” Guess Anthony didn’t get that message from ‘spirit’ or perhaps he’s not a Spiderman fan.
The article also sheds light on the role of Hay House, the New Age publishing house behind Anthony’s bestselling books. New Age spiritual beliefs and pseudoscience are blasphemous. Honestly, when reading any of the Medical Medium books I made a point to avoid any of the chapters that included spiritual teachings as I wasn’t seeking ‘enlightenment’ only relief from my chronic acne. Once I finally opened those chapters, I was surprised to read Anthony’s encouragement to pray to angels. Although I wasn’t as close to God four years ago as I am now, I had enough discernment back then to not take up this practice. “How strange,” I thought. “The bible never mentions people calling on angels for guidance…” Whatever this ‘spirit’ that Anthony is claiming to speak with is simply a poor excuse to not take responsibility for the destruction he causes. I urge anyone who finds themselves drawn to Medical Medium or those that follow him to proceed with caution. The path to wellness is fraught with pitfalls, but it is worth navigating with discernment and the backing of a healthcare professional either conventional or holistic.
As I reflect on my own journey through the Medical Medium’s online cult, I am struck by a sense of gratitude for having escaped its clutches. But I am also filled with a renewed determination to shine a light on the dangers posed by individuals like Anthony. Why share all this now? It is my hope that by sharing my story and amplifying the voices of others, we can prevent more vulnerable individuals from falling prey to the seductive allure of online influencers that don’t have our best interests at heart.
In closing, I can only hope that one day Anthony and his team will be held accountable for the harm they have caused. I pray that even his most loyal followers see the scam artist for who he is and leave that way of life behind for good. The dark and dangerous reality is that continuing to support the Medical Medium can have devastating consequences for those like Stephanie Tisone who dare to venture too far down the rabbit hole. On a personal note… to all my readers who were affected negatively by my advice to follow Medical Medium’s teachings between 2018 and 2020 I am truly sorry. Let us learn from the mistakes of the past and strive to build a future free from the influence of creepy cult leaders like Anthony.
Xoxo Maddi
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, there are not enough people who feel able to do so, and my understanding is that many of them have been silenced by Anthony and his team.
I recently started MM following the recommendation of a friend who purported to have cured ulcerative colitis through the protocols, and believed it would provide alleviation for the chronic anxiety I have lived with for over a decade. However, I was concerned from the offset as several things didn’t seem right to me. Firstly, AW’s videos are based on fear. There are so many restrictions, and we are led to believe our bodies are riddled with toxins and pathogens, thereby putting the viewer in a state of fear and making them vulnerable to his misinformation. A fearful audience is a receptive one. I would watch the videos and experience immense anxiety as much of what he said was counter to my understanding.
The protocols often involve expensive, difficult-to-acquire ingredients and supplements. For example, sourcing Canadian wild blueberries in the UK is near impossible, so you end up forking out for expensive Vimergy supplements. I believe the more you invest financially in something, the more willing you are to invest your belief in it, despite the red flags. In addition, AW comes across as incredibly narcissistic, professing to have all the answers. When someone challenges him, he becomes quite aggressive and claims they are brainwashed by the pharma industry. In addition, AW and people in the community will gaslight you. If, for example, you are experiencing difficult symptoms or a new diagnosis, it is because you are ‘detoxing’ and your body is ridding itself of all the toxins as a result of doing the plan. This could last for months or years. In addition, if you say you’ve not noticed any benefits, it is because you aren’t trying hard enough. There is literally no way you can question MM without yourself being subject to questioning. This is truly a cult.
Unfortunately, so many people have been let down by medicines and doctors that they are desperate for answers. Yes, eating more fruit and veg and maintaining a vegan lifestyle will inevitably result in benefits for one’s health, but AW does not have the answers. After following his protocols with a healthy dose of scepticism, I have not experienced any benefits, but my anxiety has increased and I was on the brink of developing orthorexia. Thank God I saw the light!
P.S. I have added a link to a petition to have AW investigated. Please feel free to delete if not allowed, or share your signature. This man should absolutely not be proclaiming to be an expert in chronic illness.
I have a friend who follows everything AW says. I also listen to him, but I don’t work with angels or God. I have to turn the volume down when he mentions them. I don’t believe in food solving all mental problems, nor do I believe in food solving mental problems. If you need care, get medical care. I have ADHD and no food is going to get me through it. It requires medication. I’d never go without my anti depressants. Also, I see influencer written all over him. I don’t follow any influencers. Good for you to get out. I agree, AW goes way too far.
I have a client who has been doing MM fat free for a year so far. She came in today totally yellow with zero energy. She’s spending a fortune on monthly on line sessions with a MM practioner plus says preparing all the juices and shots is a full time job.
I worry for her because she’s very lost as a person and needs to find answers outside of herself. She won’t go away because is fearful she won’t be able to prepare her food and if she does go away she takes extra luggage to carry a travel juicer and blender.
I wouldn’t question it if she was full of vim & vigour but she seems worse than before she started on this journey. Hence why I’ve come online to do a bit of research.
It seems like quite an aggressive community too, which doesn’t like people questioning.
Thank you for sharing. I’ve felt off about him for quite some time.
I am the husband of a wife that is lost to the MM cult and I honestly don’t know what to do! She has a host of health issues that she states is due to Epstein Barr. Whatever is happening goes into remission, she claims that she is healed and then it flares back up. This has been going on for at least seven years now. If I bring it up or suggest that she seek conventional therapy she goes absolutely ballistic! There’s no talking to her anymore. Mind you, I am an Acupuncturist, Vegan and I’ve been into alternative/ complementary healing for 28 years now. There is NO breaking her from this cult and I’ve even stated that it’s MM or me. So far she’s chosen the snake oil salesman.
Hope things turned for the better. No man is worthy to be followed except for prophet Mohammed Allah s peace and blessings be upon him as he was the last send by the Almighty Lord. And has gotten revelation through the angel Gabriel peace be upon him and these words are written down for us. A message from.God our Creator. Dont miss it. It will bring the ultimate joy and happiness both in this word and the next. Life is only a temporary test after its forever. May Allah guide us all.
M0hmmed was a mentally ill – mentally retarded pedophile and rapist, with low IQ impulse control. Whatever he was eating, I don’t recommend it. 🤣
Curious Kevin, you called him a snake oil salesman. What is he selling? All of his info is free? You don’t even have to buy a book. You can go to the Library. Is your concern that your wife has chosen to eat healthy? Every food he promotes is from God. Are you saying God ‘s food is not healing?
Foods from god. Yeah beacause god wants you to buy very expensive wild blueberry powder suplement LOL
A dear friend who came down with an autoimmune disease six years ago considers MM her personal savior. Every cent of her minimal income goes to the fruits and vegetables and supplements of her smoothie prep, paying for online sessions with him or those in his close circle, and it is all she can ever talk about. He consumes here total existence, and she believes every single thing he says, and very little of it is even remotely science based.
Recently we chatted. Part of the conversation went like this: “People don’t understand that aliens are actually in our presence right now. They exist, and they have infiltrated the human race. While they have the power to annihilate us, some are choosing to work with us in disguise. The evil aliens are intent on mining our resources. They are here. They have been here.” What could lead her into to such a warped, sci-fi belief that she is sharing as absolute truth? MM told her it was true. It’s absolutely bizarro. Every time she talks about Spirit of Compassion and the series of angels he recommends, I feel a dark presence enter our conversation. He is absolutely a cult leader.
AW does not do private session nor does he have “people” who do. There is people that do have sessions with people but, AW has no control over what they say. No in anyway benefits. This has nothing to do with AW. Are you chronically ill? Do you know what it’s like to be told that your body is eating itself and there is no cure? Do you know what it’s like to have severe reactions to drugs. So severe that you almost die? Do you know what it’s like to start eating food God created and be able to walk again? To be pain free? To be able to no longer be bed ridden? Do you know what it’s like to have a stranger give a step by step account of the truth of your bodies deterioration and it be proven to be truth? You start eating Gods food and you start healing? No one is charging you anything! It’s free. Every bit of his info is free. How does this make him a bad man. Come back when you get sick and you have no hope. Just know even for you, his info will be free and he will have all the answers to heal. Do you ask yourself??? Why would a woman take no proof. Only hearsay and try and destroy another human being. Do you know how many of us woman healed huge fibroids and now have a child? Medical system said no possible! Do you know what it’s like to have a child with severe autism, so severe they have no eye contact or verbal communication eat Gods food (SOC suggestions) and your child can now live a normal life? Why would you want to take that away from a mother? From a precious child? Isn’t that selfish?
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light… Thank you for sharing your journey and experiences with the MM protocol. It’s got just enough ‘truth’ in it to temporarily heal and sound right, but there is something toxic (ironically) in his demeanor, his message and his sprinkling of spirituality here and there to lure people into what could easily become a stronghold and idolatry. Jesus paid too high a price for that.
Suzanne, do you know it’s blasphemy to use scripture as a weapon against a human being without knowing the truth of that scripture. What is the purpose? Do you have any understanding of what that scripture even means? If you want to pull scripture out I will be more than happy to discuss truth. Again, you have never had a child dying or a spouse or a family member. Doctors giving no hope. And then God gives you his truth. Truth that has been covered up for years and now your mother has zero dementia. Before she didn’t know who she was. Are you saying you want to take a life away? By being uneducated? What if it was your mother. Is that how you would treat your mother. Discard her because it would take time to fix meals and not go through a drive thru and eat a bunch of chemicals that are literally killing you. Have you been paralyzed from a vaccine injury? Have you ever had your body feel like you were being burned alive? Eat SOC’s (Gods’s truth) and no longer be in pain? Come back after the next pandemic that is coming. Let me know what you choose then when Dr’s gaslight you and give you no hope. Only a bucket of drugs, that makes you worse. Don’t speak something you know nothing about.
Did or do you have a health issue you want addressed to follow his advice ? If not, then of course you won’t feel 10x more amazing . He explains why not to eat certain foods. Other than that, if you feel fine then eat what you want but just limit the no foods. You say he is not a medical expert. He already said that. God is guiding us all the time otherwise we would be brain dead. Don’t judge what you don’t know. Where is your medical degree?
LOL you ask her where is her medical degree, but why don’t you ask MM the same?
Of course satan masquerades as an angel but he isn’t going to tell you to do right or good things. What did Anthony tell us that is wrong or hurtful ?
She’s sharing a lot of wrong, unproven insinuations about Medical Medium in this Article. It’s clear she did not do her research carefully about Anthony William.
The Vanity Fair Article was based solely on lies and false manipulated information, which was admitted in audio recordings by the people who told the lies to the reporter! It’s been openly documented that a group of people plotted against Anthony to wrongfully ruin his reputation by telling horrible lies.
This article is so disgraceful, filled with the same lies. Please research the original term cult, and the modern day use of the word cult. People don’t seem to understand socially the word cult is used for evil groups, but by definition there are MANY ‘cults’ that exist because the original term is so broad.
In context and reality, Medical Medium information has never directly hurt anyone, is not based on greed, promotes compassion and understanding, acceptance of one’s dietary preference, and encourages people to come and go as they please or as they are able to, and donates time and money back to it’s community members. If people were to actually talk to Anthony or watch his meet and greets, he doesn’t have a single mean or vicious bone in his body and genuinely cares about people. And he completely understands the difficulties people face in this world and their healing.
1. The reason his followers are primarily women is because there are a higher percentage of women who are sick unfortunately, period. How old are you? If you’re young, you may not notice this yet, but look at heterosexual couples and see how many women in the couple are sick and how many men. All of my women friends unfortunately have some health issue. Men do too, but because women’s immune systems drop during menstruation, sickness is more likely to take off.
2. Anthony has a whole podcast series exposing the false claims made in that Vanity Fair article. It was done intentionally to take down MM.
3. Here’s what I’ve observed from listening to Medical Medium live videos, podcats, etc. – he explains why eggs, dairy, gluten are not helpful, but he never says you can’t eat those things. In a live, a women commented saying she felt guilty for eating bread, and he quickly comforted her and said its ok! There’s nothing to feel bad about. In his words – you can take the information as far as you need to. You can dabble. I have friends in the community that drink coffee still, or will eat one of the no foods. Typically, they’ll feel bad enough afterwards that they don’t want to do that very often.
4. A lot of people unfortunately don’t get results quickly, but may expect that because of other healing stories. Everyone has different exposures, and everyone is up against different stressors. Did you know adrenaline is a huge setback for health? Being in an abusive relationship for the 2 years while practicing Medical Medium probably did not help the healing process, and I’m sorry you had to go through that.
Its not a cult, just a movement. If youve spent time with people in person at an event, the healing stories would uplift you. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. Hopefully you find healing elsewhere.
Yes. Medical medium info has only made my life better. I almost died and no doctor could help me. If it wasn’t for this information, I wouldn’t be here. And yes, ADHD can be cured with correcting what is going on inside the body naturally. I’m living proof. I’ve healed so many symptoms and conditions. I really wish the lies would stop circulating about him because people struggle to actually do the work. He is the most humble person that only wants people well. He doesn’t want money; only to get the info out as free as possible. I wish I could be like him.
I was looking at a website promoting a heavy metal detox mix, apparently based on a recipe from the MM. I searched for information on the MM and found this article, amongst others. The comments section of your article could be the basis of a nice showcase and example of how the internet is working these days. You write an article about your experience. You display vulnerablitlity, and back up your experience with other articles, primarily the Vanity Fair article. A few commenters applaud your article. Then come a few odd comments, one about Allah, and then a few from true believers of MM accusing you of false views and somehow being in the wrong. They even go so far as to say that the Vanity Fair article was based on falsehoods/ It is fascinating to see how the whole world of internet polarization, trolling with very particular viewpoinst and agendas and so on come alive in this way. I want to say to you, “good on you for saying what’s real for you.” Thanks for you article, it probably saved me a lot of money.
I was thinking the same thing when I read the comments. It proves that his followers will protect him as if he was a god… My wife has fallen pray to him and has lost her connection with me and her family because of his grip.