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 2019 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 year 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 back in 2019 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
