Magda Szubanski has issued an urgent warning to fans after cruel online scammers used her likeness in the wake of her shock stage four cancer diagnosis.
The beloved comedian, who revealed in May she is battling an aggressive blood cancer called Mantle Cell Lymphoma, took to social media on Saturday night to expose the hoax.
Sharing an AI-generated image of a woman resembling her lying in a hospital bed, the Kath & Kim star made it clear the image was fake and being used to con well-meaning supporters out of money.
‘Ok. Dear peeps. This lovely lady – whoever she is – is not me. I hope she’s doing well,’ Magda wrote.
She warned the image was being circulated online to raise funds supposedly for her cancer treatment, stressing she had absolutely no involvement in the appeal, as she urged fans not to donate.
‘Please don’t think it’s me and DEFINITELY DO NOT DONATE MONEY TO ANY MEDICAL FUNDRAISER THAT PURPORTS TO BE ME!! If you want the real me you can always find me here. Otherwise – it’s a scam,’ she cautioned.
Magda Szubanski has issued an urgent warning to fans after cruel online scammers used her likeness in the wake of her shock stage four cancer diagnosis
Many of Magda’s celebrity friends took to the comments section to express their disbelief about the hoax.
‘Bloody lowlifes. Sending you so much love,’ wrote MasterChef Australia star Julie Goodwin.
‘OMG that’s crazy,’ added Gogglebox veteran Isabelle Silberry.
In May, Magda announced on social media that she was battling a rare form of cancer known as Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
She appeared on camera with a shaved head after beginning her treatment to fight the disease.
‘Hello my lovelies. So, the head is shaved in anticipation of it all falling out in a couple of weeks because I have just been diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive, very serious lymphoma,’ she began.
‘It is one of the nasty ones, unfortunately. The good thing is I’m surrounded by beautiful friends, family and an incredible medical support team.
‘Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne. I feel very fortunate.
The beloved comedian took to social media on Saturday night to expose the hoax. Sharing an AI-generated image of a woman resembling her lying in a hospital bed, the Kath & Kim star made it clear the image was fake and being used to con well-meaning supporters out of money
Magda warned the image was being circulated online to raise funds supposedly for her cancer treatment, stressing she had absolutely no involvement in the appeal and urging fans not to donate
‘It’s pretty confronting. It is full on. But new treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time.’
Magda said she has started a treatment called the Nordic protocol, which treats MCL by shrinking the tumours with a combination of drugs administered in five phases.
This marks another chapter in Magda’s long and public journey with health issues – having been the face of one of the country’s former best known weight loss brands, Jenny Craig, and more recently, starring in an ABC TV show, Magda’s Big National Health Check.
Magda has previously spoken about living with osteoarthritis, autoimmune arthritis, sleep apnoea, and migraines.
In addition to her physical health, the comedian has been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, candidly sharing her experiences with anxiety.
In a powerful essay for the ABC in 2022, Magda opened up about her lifelong struggle with weight and the harmful impact dieting had on her.
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