WA News

Petition to stop wellness 'guru' David Wolfe spreading message in Perth

A popular Perth hotel has faced severe backlash for agreeing to host controversial American wellness guru David 'Avocado' Wolfe.

Mr Wolfe will host a three-day wellness seminar next weekend dedicated at Rendezvous Hotel in Scarborough, and some Perth locals have taken issue with the hotel for agreeing to host the controversial figure.

University of Western Australia medicine student Denae Sinclair started a petition to campaign against the event, and said Mr Wolfe's controversial stance on a number of health issues was concerning.

"When I heard he was coming to Perth, to speak at a well-known hotel function centre for $440 per ticket, I had to step up and say something. I fear that people will be harmed by his messages, and will forgo actual medicine for ineffective and dangerous 'natural' remedies," she said.

The petition has already racked up a number of signatures calling for Rendezvous Hotel conference and events manager Clinton Fell to call off the event.

"David Avocado Wolfe has absolutely no scientific evidence to back his claims. With that said, he cannot be spreading his ideas and therapies to the public. He shouldn't be given the opportunity to hold a seminar," one post said.

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"Money shouldn't come before the health of any single person, let alone the huge outreach an event like this will have. Rendezvous, please consider putting Perth's health first."

Mr Wolfe has previously attracted criticism for his anti-vaccination stance, and denounced chemotherapy drugs in favour of natural medication such as turmeric, true spring water and organic garlic cloves.  

But Mr Wolfe said the petition didn't bother him.

"I don't really feel anything about it, I'm just going to show up and deliver my health message on nutrition, foods, superfoods, and herbalism," he said.

"Sane and rational people understand that censorship leads to tyranny and this is a free country and freedom shall prevail."

Tickets are $440 for the full three days, and the event is hosted by Australian company Superfeast.

A Superfeast spokesperson said Mr Wolfe's personal beliefs were not relevant to the events' sole purpose.

"David is here to talk about nutrition, wellness and detoxification. Our interest as a company and for the event is enhancing all the participant's health practices and goals... we would like to reiterate that the tour is not, nor ever has been promoted as having anything to do with vaccinations," she said.

"David's personal opinion on vaccinations has nothing to do with the work he is bringing to Australia. We have hired him to deliver events purely focused on wellness, nutrition and having the best health that you can possibly have, regardless of your beliefs or choices."

But Ms Sinclair said Mr Wolfe's personal beliefs would continue to corrupt the purpose of the event.

"My message [to Rendezvous Hotel] would be to please reconsider their choice to host David Wolfe," she said.

"Whilst he is a popular figure on social media and will undoubtedly enable you to make money, his beliefs, values and general business model are corrupt and built on lying to vulnerable individuals."

The TFE Group has been contacted for comment.