Celebs who sold nonsense about their own illness

This article is a bit contradictory, because I actually think it's very good when celebrities talk openly about the things they struggle with. Mental disorders or physical illnesses: spreading more awareness is always a good sign, I think. But — and this is an important but — you must proclaim truths. Because many people see celebrities as role models, and when they give ‘tips’ on how to deal with an illness, it can become a bit dangerous. Like the celebrities below.

1. Bella Hadid about her chronic Lyme disease
Mother Yolanda also claims to have this disease, which you may have seen if you watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Rumors say that the entire Hadid family (Anwar is said to have it too) made it up, although I can't imagine why you would do that. But the fact is that chronic Lyme actually doesn't exist. As in: there is no scientific evidence that Lyme exists in a chronic form. That makes it a bit tricky to talk openly about it.

2. Justin Bieber about his chronic mono (Pfeiffer)
This is actually the same as with Bella: the disease absolutely exists (and is really tough), but a chronic variant of Pfeiffer does not exist. What does exist is that the virus causing this Pfeiffer stays in the body too long, but this is then called the Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV). Does he perhaps have that? Hopefully not, because this infection is often fatal..

3. Selena about her Lupus
Admittedly: this could just be a slip of the tongue. A clumsy one, especially since there are rumors about Selena that she made up her illness (to mask a drug addiction). But anyway, in an interview she talked about her Lupus, but instead said: ‘I am going through leukemia,’ which... Well, is really something very different. Important detail: she claims to have received chemotherapy for her Lupus.

4. Halle Berry about her diabetes
This actress claims that she has cured herself: she would have type 1 diabetes, but by eating healthy (and thus not using insulin) she would have healed. Very dangerous to give this kind of ‘advice’, because if it wasn't clear yet: this absolutely does not help to cure type 1 diabetes (it is incurable) and is really very dangerous.

5. Alec Baldwin about OCD
As someone who has OCD and has been in therapy for it, this makes me very irritated. He has diagnosed himself because he likes things to be neat and clean. No, dear Alec: that is not OCD, and by making such statements, people do not take such a disorder seriously. Also see Khloé Kardashian by the way.