In an age dominated by influencers and celebrity culture, the world of pseudoscience has found fertile ground to thrive. From TV shows like The House of Wellness to social media influencers with millions of followers, celebrities have built platforms that promote pseudoscientific ideas under the guise of health, wellness, and personal growth. Meanwhile, science—the careful, evidence-based discipline that drives real progress—struggles to compete. This creates a dangerous dynamic where facts take a back seat to emotional appeal, and the influence of unqualified figures overshadows the expertise of scientists. But the question is: why do we defer to celebrities instead of experts in matters that directly impact our health and wellbeing? And how can we shift the balance back to science?
The Celebrity Echo Chamber: A Powerful Force
Shows like The House of Wellness exemplify how pseudoscience thrives in the media. Backed by industries like supplements and alternative medicine, these shows provide easy, feel-good narratives that draw viewers in. They tell people what they want to hear, offering quick fixes, miracle supplements, and simple explanations for complex health issues. This approach is engaging, entertaining, and emotionally satisfying, which makes it highly marketable.
But here’s the problem: pseudoscience offers the illusion of control without the need for understanding. It promises instant results and a direct line to personal empowerment, which resonates deeply with audiences. In contrast, science often presents the facts—complex, sometimes uncomfortable facts—about how our bodies work, why diseases occur, and what realistic interventions look like. The truth is not always easy or convenient, and science doesn’t always have quick fixes. But it does have something far more important: accuracy and reliability.
The celebrity echo chamber, where like-minded influencers and public figures reinforce each other’s beliefs, allows these ideas to spread unchecked. It’s an echo chamber where pseudoscientific practices—like energy healing, supplements, and manifesting success—become normalised and embraced without critical evaluation. In industries like the arts and entertainment, this can happen even faster. Creative individuals are often more open to abstract thinking and intuition, and when they find success, their beliefs in pseudoscience can grow along with their influence. They start to see their success as evidence that their spiritual practices—like aligning with the universe or manifesting abundance—are real, and this message gets broadcast to millions.
Why Science Struggles in the Age of Influence
The fundamental challenge is that science, by its nature, doesn’t have the same emotional or entertainment appeal. Science-based programming, which presents facts grounded in evidence, often feels “dry” or less exciting compared to wellness shows that promise immediate transformation. Shows like The House of Wellness tell uplifting stories that resonate with viewers on a personal level, while science typically deals with hard facts and sometimes uncomfortable realities—like the fact that no supplement will cure chronic illness, or that “boosting” the immune system isn’t scientifically sound.
Additionally, pseudoscience offers simplicity. The wellness industry often provides one-sise-fits-all solutions—take this supplement, perform this energy ritual, or follow this simple routine to achieve happiness and health. Science, on the other hand, acknowledges complexity. Health outcomes depend on a range of factors, from genetics to environment to lifestyle, and solutions often require a nuanced understanding of those factors. It’s harder to sell nuance, especially in a media landscape designed to grab attention.
And then there’s the issue of trust. Celebrities are relatable; they present themselves as everyday people who “figured out” the secret to success. In contrast, scientists are seen as distant or inaccessible. Distrust of experts has grown, particularly in the wake of high-profile movements like anti-vaccination campaigns. People are more willing to listen to someone they admire and relate to, even when that person has no qualifications in the subject they’re talking about.
Pseudoscience in the Creative World: A Slippery Slope
Creative individuals, particularly in the arts, often gravitate towards practices like yoga and meditation to help them manage stress, get into character, or unlock their creativity. These practices are beneficial on their own, offering relaxation, mindfulness, and focus. But the wellness industry quickly capitalises on this by extending into pseudoscientific territory—supplements, energy healing, crystals, and manifesting success.
What starts as a tool for mindfulness can evolve into beliefs that success came because the “universe aligned” or that gratitude alone is the key to abundance. Over time, these ideas become entrenched, and for celebrities or creative types, they may attribute their success not to hard work or luck but to spiritual forces or pseudoscientific practices. This belief then spreads to their followers, who see these celebrities as proof that these ideas work.
It’s an easy sell—especially when the scientific alternative can feel impersonal or difficult to understand. But while pseudoscience might offer comfort or hope, it lacks the rigor that science provides. And when people start to make health or life decisions based on pseudoscience, the consequences can be dangerous.
Science vs. Pseudoscience: The Need for Expertise
Imagine if we let a cleaner fix our plumbing, or a dentist repair our car. It sounds absurd because we naturally defer to experts in fields where we know we lack knowledge. We trust engineers to build bridges, doctors to diagnose illnesses, and scientists to develop technology. We drive cars and use phones designed by science. We trust planes to fly and buildings to stand because experts have applied scientific principles to make them safe. So why, when it comes to health and wellness, do we abandon this logic and listen to celebrities instead of scientists?
Science is what allows us to cross bridges without fear, communicate across the world in seconds, and live healthier, longer lives. It’s rooted in evidence, peer review, and the ability to change and improve as new data emerges. Pseudoscience, in contrast, is static. It promises certainty without evidence, comfort without rigor. And while it may feel good in the short term, it can never offer the lasting, real-world benefits that science provides.
Putting Science First: A Path Forward
To reclaim the narrative, we need to find a way to make science just as accessible and engaging as the pseudoscientific alternatives. This means scientists and science communicators must become better storytellers, using the same platforms—TV, social media, podcasts—that have been so effectively used by the wellness industry. They must find ways to relate to people’s emotions, to explain complex ideas in simple, relatable terms without sacrificing accuracy.
We also need to foster critical thinking, teaching people how to evaluate claims and question information—even when it comes from someone they admire. Just as we trust experts in every other field, we need to remind people that science is where we should turn for answers about health, wellness, and the natural world.
The battle between science and pseudoscience isn’t just about facts; it’s about trust, emotion, and influence. And if we want science to triumph, we need to meet people where they are—telling stories that resonate, but grounded in truth