Matthew Lani, the social media phenomenon who sparked controversy by impersonating a medical doctor, has issued a heartfelt apology to his followers and the public.
His rise to fame, which involved giving medical advice and peddling weight-loss supplements under the guise of a healthcare professional, has now reached a fitting conclusion marked by this acknowledgement of wrongdoing.
Lani's portrayal of 'Dr. Matthew,' a persona he created in 2021 with the intent of educating South Africans about HIV and AIDS, attracted significant attention.
However, as his platform expanded, so did the concerns surrounding his credentials.
His claims of studying at the prestigious University of the Witwatersrand were swiftly quashed by the institution, leading to public outcry and a distancing from the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), which clarified that Lani is not registered as a health practitioner.
With the HPCSA making it known that no authorisation had been granted for Lani to present himself as a medical professional, the repercussions of his actions questioned the credibility of his platform.
After months of speculation and growing criticism, Lani finally chose to confront his past in a candid video address shared on Tik Tok, reflecting on the choices that led him astray.
“I think many of you will say that this video is long overdue,” Lani admitted. But I wanted to make it when I was ready and when I had reflected. Firstly, I would like to take this time and apologise to my followers and South Africans and to people that had trusted in me. So as many of us might know, last year in October on my birthday, the 9th of October, various institutions, including the Department of Health, with regards to the doctor Matthew.
In his narrative, he accepted responsibility for the false persona that gained a significant following, admitting,
“Many people trusted Dr. Matthew and the advice I gave them. I must admit that along the way, I got excited for the attention and the clout...And the attention that I was receiving that I misrepresented myself. And that I did not put the best interest of the public at heart. I was selfish, and I put myself before everybody else. And before the safety of other people. So I would truly like to apologise to those people whose trust I broke.”
The Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
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