Pete Evans’ harmful documentary The Magic Pill is removed from streaming giant Netflix

Disgraced conspiracy theorist Pete Evans’ controversial documentary, The Magic Pill, has been removed from the popular streaming site, Netflix.  

Following its 2017 release, the documentary has copped significant backlash from health professionals for its peddling of harmful views and suggestion that the paleo ketogenic diet could potentially cure illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, autism and heart disease. 

And after three years of pressure to remove the documentary from their platform, Netflix has finally taken action, as is evident in an erroneous ‘Lost Your Way?’ holding page in place of the misguided viewing material.  

Frustrated with Netflix’s initial decision to host the doc, Australian Medical Association president Dr Tony Bartone told The Sydney Morning Herald in 2018: ‘Netflix should do the responsible thing. They shouldn’t screen it. The risk of misinformation is too great.’

The streaming giant defended the inclusion of the documentary in its line-up at the time, claiming they program for a wide audience.

However, it’s clear that the former My Kitchen Rules judge no longer has the backing of Netflix.

Viewers who are hoping to watch the detrimental documentary will now be faced with an error code, and the message: ‘Sorry, but we can’t find that page. You’ll find heaps to explore on the homepage.’

While it is a likely reason, Netflix hasn’t confirmed whether Pete’s recent controversies and dangerous views on COVID-19 were a significant factor in their decision to pull the documentary.

Last week, Pete deleted his latest Facebook post after encouraging people in Victoria not to wear a mask.

Residents of metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire have been required to wear a mask from Wednesday July 22nd and will be fined $200 if they are caught in public spaces without one following a surge of COVID-19 cases.

However, days before the rule came into effect, the anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist – who has falsely claimed the pandemic is a ‘hoax’ – urged Victorians to accept the fine for not wearing a mask in order to challenge it in court.

In a now-deleted Facebook post, Evans said it was ‘far too expensive’ for the state government to defend the fines, making the rule effectively meaningless. 

Pete’s ridiculous advice prompted backlash from sensible Australians, who labelled him a ‘danger to humanity’. 

In his original post, Pete wrote: ‘Free legal advice to all Victorians. Don’t wear a mask. Get a $200 fine then elect to have it determined in court.

‘Every single one of you 6.359 million Victorians can challenge the fines in court. The Victorian Government won’t fight you in court. It’s far too expensive for them to do so.’

Evans claimed the inaccurate legal information he was sharing with his followers had been sent to him by someone else, and encouraged people to ‘explore it in their own way’.

The shameful post sparked widespread condemnation, with people flocking to Twitter to protest his insensitive message.

‘As a fellow Victorian I kindly ask that no one follow Pete Evans legal advice. It’s stupid and dangerous,’ one person wrote.

‘Pete Evans has a lot to answer for in inciting people to work against all efforts to keep the community safe. And that’s before we even have a vaccine,’ another added.

A third wrote:  ‘Just when you thought Pete Evans couldn’t do anything else stupid – this happens… he is a danger to humanity.’

‘I swear, Pete Evans is the kind of person that’ll hide a zombie bite. Please kindly f**k off with your Paleo, anti-vax… and anti-mask views, and propaganda. Sincerely, a Victorian,’ read a similar comment. 

Pete has been embroiled in a string of controversies since being sacked by Channel Seven earlier this year for his extreme views.

Earlier this month, he claimed that COVID-19 was a ‘f**king hoax’ and that the pandemic ‘doesn’t compare to what is happening in the world on a large scale’.

Appearing on the Well and Good podcast, hosted by The Bachelor NZ stars Art and Matilda Green, the celebrity chef also vented about having to send his ‘kids to school wearing a f**king mask’. 

Among his bizarre claims about the virus, Pete has previously declared he’s immune to COVID-19, and has also blamed the pandemic on 5G technology.

He recently endorsed fellow conspiracy theorist David Icke, a known Holocaust denier who was denied entry to Australia last year after protests from the Jewish community.