Former celebrity chef Pete Evans has popped up on social media looking almost unrecognisable from his days on prime time television.
The ex-My Kitchen Rules judge, 50, has kept a low profile in recent times following a wave of controversies related to his anti-vaxxer stance and support of conspiracy theories.
However, Evans – who was banned from several mainstream social media sites – appeared on his wife Nicola Robinson’s page recently sporting a dramatic new mullet haircut and rugged facial hair.
“Probably opening my Momullet hair salon sometime soon? I feel like I’m close to mastering this funky yet functional head rug,” she captioned the profile shot.
“It seems very popular among the Humans that show up for the Earth dance with the FYIWDWYTM attitude.”
Evans also made a brief appearance in an odd video on Instagram showing him with a mullet and wearing a “Food is Medicine” T-shirt as he walked around an outdoor kitchen.
Evans’ new hairstyle marked a significant change from his clean-cut years in the public eye.
Once one of Australia’s most beloved restaurateurs, Evans quit his television career in 2020, effectively marking his break from the mainstream after steadily increasing his support for conspiracy theories and non-scientific beliefs.
The chef – who became a household name hosting My Kitchen Rules for 11 years opposite Manu Feildel – had previously raised eyebrows with his controversial health views but emerged as a full-blown coronavirus sceptic in 2020.
The same year, he was slapped with a $25,000 fine by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for selling a $15,000 “BioCharger” device he falsely claimed could fight Covid.
In November 2020, he was swiftly dropped by 15 sponsors and companies after posting a meme featuring a neo-Nazi symbol to his social media.
Since then, he’s largely stayed out of the spotlight, sharing content only with followers on alternative platform Telegram, including anti-vax commentary, right-wing political sentiments and bitcoin updates.