Influencer Settles Defamation Lawsuit With F-Factor Diet Founder Tanya Zuckerbrot

An online influencer without any medical or nutritional credentials has agreed to issue a public apology and pay 240,000 dollars to diet guru Tanya Zuckerbrot, founder of the F-Factor diet, following a severe social media defamation campaign that devastated her business and pushed her to the brink of suicide.

The Rise and Fall of a Diet Empire

In 2018, Zuckerbrot launched F-Factor fiber and protein powders and snack bars. Within two years, the company generated over a million dollars a month, valued at more than 40 million dollars, attracting New York's elite and celebrities. However, in 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Emily Gellis began publishing anonymous testimonials from followers claiming severe physical and mental issues linked to the diet. Over 75 days, Gellis uploaded thousands of stories and posts against Zuckerbrot and her company, eventually crossing 50,000 pieces of content.

Gellis linked the products to hair loss, anxiety attacks, urinary tract infections, miscarriages, and even death, falsely claiming dangerous levels of arsenic. Despite rigorous laboratory testing proving the products were entirely safe, the business damage was irreversible. Zuckerbrot lost millions, spent over a million on legal fees, and suffered severe trauma.

Settlement and Apology

Under a settlement agreement in the New York Supreme Court, Gellis admitted that all her claims were false and that she relied on unverified, anonymous social media information without any medical analysis.

What started as an inquiry turned into a sustained and damaging campaign that was not based on verified facts, Gellis stated in a public apology.

The 240,000 dollar compensation will be paid in a unique installment plan of 500 dollars per month over the next 40 years, serving as a monthly reminder of the inflicted suffering. Zuckerbrot plans to relaunch F-Factor in 2027.