Here’s a shocking truth: even beloved celebrities like Magda Szubanski aren’t safe from the dark side of social media. But here’s where it gets controversial—fake fundraisers and AI-generated images are now being weaponized to exploit fans’ goodwill. The Australian comedy legend and national treasure recently took to Instagram to set the record straight, warning her followers about fraudulent medical fundraisers and fake news stories using her likeness.
On a quiet Saturday afternoon, the Kath & Kim star addressed her fans directly, debunking a series of circulating images. ‘This lovely lady—whoever she is—is not me,’ Szubanski wrote with her signature wit. ‘I hope she’s doing well, but please don’t be fooled. And DEFINITELY DO NOT DONATE to any medical fundraiser claiming to be me. If you’re looking for the real me, you’ll find me right here. Otherwise, it’s a scam.’
For context, Szubanski revealed in May 2023 that she had been diagnosed with stage four Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. She’s currently undergoing treatment in Melbourne with The Nordic Protocol, a cutting-edge combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. And this is the part most people miss—while her battle is real, the updates circulating outside her official channels are not.
The fake images, likely AI-generated, have been spreading across social media platforms for days, accompanied by false health updates. One such post, shared by a Facebook account called Celebrity Buzz Today on January 15, claimed: ‘GOOD NEWS AND AN EMOTIONAL UPDATE. After receiving overwhelming hospital support from thousands of fans, Magda Szubanski has finally shared a new update on her health today. “I am fighting. But I cannot do it alone. My current health condition is…”’ Spoiler alert: it was all a lie.
Szubanski hasn’t posted any health updates since August 2023, when she shared an emotional video from the hospital. In it, she thanked a young fan for boosting her spirits while candidly admitting, ‘Chemo is smacking me around.’ Her latest Instagram post reiterates that all genuine updates about her health can only be found on her official social media accounts—anything else is a scam.
This raises a bigger question: How far is too far when it comes to exploiting someone’s health for profit? While Szubanski’s team has been contacted for further comment, Australians are urged to report such scams to ScamWatch. But let’s take a moment to reflect—what does it say about our society when even a battle with cancer becomes fodder for fraud? Share your thoughts in the comments: Do you think social media platforms are doing enough to combat these scams? Or is it on us, as users, to stay vigilant?
