Pete Evans and his latest lifestyle trend have come under fire from 2GB presenter Ray Hadley, who labelled the celebrity chef “a nincompoop” on Tuesday.
Appearing on Channel 9’s Today Show alongside host Karl Stefanovic, Hadley said bluntly, “the bloke’s as mad as a meat axe, leave him to the other network. Is this the Paleo bloke?”
When Stefanovic nodded, Hadley continued, "Mate, I refuse to talk about him, he is a nincompoop."
The comment arose after Stefanovic asked Hadley what he thought about "earthing", a lifestyle technique promoted by Evans over the weekend.
We discuss: Why does everyone hate Pete Evans? (Post continues after audio.)
Advocates (like Evans) claim there are health benefits to having a physical connection with the earth’s surface, for example by walking barefoot or sitting on the grass.
As the earth’s surface is electronically charged with negative ions (molecules that have an extra electron attached), it’s thought that these additional electrons are transferred from the ground to the body during direct contact with the skin.
These charges work to stabilise free radicals and reduce inflammation in the body. Earthing has been associated with alleviating pain, assisting in wound healing and improving sleep.
Or, in Stefanovic's terms, "you basically roll up your sleeves, take off your shoes, you roll around in the dirt in the hope of forming a connection with the mother earth."
Hadley, however, was having none of it. "I refer to my earlier comment. He is a nincompoop," he said with growing disinterest.
When Stefanovic invited the talk back radio host to go earthing with him, Hadley simply replied, "If you want to go down there, with the paparazzi chasing you, go for it, just leave me out."
Top Comments
I live in hippy town where lots of families practice "earthing." I see the kids and adults running free with bare feet in the park...often moments after the Council worker has just sprayed chemicals on the weeds. I see them filling up the car at the service station in bare feet, standing in a puddle of carcinogenic petroleum like there's no problem. I see them in doctors surgeries and hospitals roaming barefoot - while people cough and splatter germs every where. Do these people not understand that skin ingestion of contamination can be far more detrimental to their health than the warm fuzzy connection with Mother Earth? There's a reason that we wear shoes. Also it is very rude to go into someone's house and put your feet up on their sofa when your feet are black with dirt from "earthing." It's dumb and rude.
At 41 I've never felt and looked healthier. 'Earthing' 'Paleo' they're just labels which us adherents don't really care too much about but people like Hadley and the Evans bashers tend to look at labels like they're a comprehensive summary.
Dude, I'm talking about labeling and the reactions that people with a fixed mindset tend to have. Label givers will often use argumentum ad hominem in debate which is a close minded attack strategy. If you didn't pick up on it I'm speaking about Hadley's thoughtless reaction to anything that doesn't fit inside of his little box.
Does 'earthing' in nature work? I believe there is evidence enough to suggest that we should dig deeper.
Do earthing mats work? Are they safe? I'm not sure but I'm open to further studies.
Thanks for telling me about the dangers of touching electricity. I was about to stick a fork in to a wall socket but your comment caused pause for thought.