Pete Evans’ neo-Nazi meme scandal will make his brand BIGGER than ever according to Max Markson

He may have been dropped by over 15 sponsors, including his own publisher, for sharing a neo-Nazi meme on Facebook over the weekend. 

But disgraced My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans’ career is far from over, according to top celebrity publicist Max Markson. 

‘It’s been a tough couple of days for [Pete], but he will come through being a much stronger personality. Bigger and better than before,’ Markson exclusively told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.   

Pictured: Pete Evans

‘Bigger and better than before’: Top celebrity publicist Max Markson (left) believes disgraced chef Pete Evans’ (right) career will be bigger than ever following this week’s neo-Nazi meme scandal

‘Pete’s career isn’t over. He will be bigger in the future than he is now,’ he said. 

The publicist, who represents some of Australia’s most controversial celebrities, believes that being dumped by mainstream retailers and media outlets could be a blessing in disguise for Pete’s brand. 

‘He’s now free of the book publishing game, so he can do his own books. He can still do his cooking, his recipes… but now he can also do whatever he wants.’ 

He will now be in control of his own life and his own future': The publicist, who represents some of Australia's most controversial celebrities, believes that being dumped by mainstream retailers and media outlets could be a blessing in disguise for Pete's (pictured) brand

He will now be in control of his own life and his own future’: The publicist, who represents some of Australia’s most controversial celebrities, believes that being dumped by mainstream retailers and media outlets could be a blessing in disguise for Pete’s (pictured) brand 

'The controversy just leads to more sales': Markson believes that the celebrity chef's loyal army of online followers will support him through the controversy, and will continue to believe his alternative ideologies in future

‘The controversy just leads to more sales’: Markson believes that Pete’s loyal army of online followers will support him through the controversy, and will continue to believe his alternative ideologies in future

‘This has been like a cleansing for him. He will now be in control of his own life and his own future… without anyone trying to discipline him.’    

Markson believes that the celebrity chef’s loyal army of online followers will support him through the controversy, and will continue to believe his alternative ideologies in future. 

‘He’s still got his social media following that he can use to promote and sell [products]… and he’s created his own television network, Evolve TV.’  

Shameful: Pete had sparked outrage on Sunday when he shared a neo-Nazi meme on Facebook. He posted this cartoon of a caterpillar wearing a MAGA cap and a butterfly with the racist Black Sun emblem on its wing - with the suggestion being that neo-Nazism is the natural evolution for Donald Trump supporters

Shameful: Pete had sparked outrage on Sunday when he shared a neo-Nazi meme on Facebook. He posted this cartoon of a caterpillar wearing a MAGA cap and a butterfly with the racist Black Sun emblem on its wing – with the suggestion being that neo-Nazism is the natural evolution for Donald Trump supporters

‘There might be some short term loss, but he’s already there. He can just drive people down to his Evolve TV network, and the controversy just leads to more sales,’ he explained.  

Pete has faced significant backlash for sharing the neo-Nazi meme on Facebook on Sunday.

The post was a cartoon of a caterpillar wearing a MAGA cap and a butterfly with the racist Black Sun emblem on its wing – with the suggestion being that neo-Nazism is the natural evolution for Donald Trump supporters.

What was he thinking? Evans seemingly confirmed he was aware of the meaning of the symbol when a fan stated they recognised it, and Pete replied: 'I was waiting for someone to see that'

What was he thinking? Evans seemingly confirmed he was aware of the meaning of the symbol when a fan stated they recognised it, and Pete replied: ‘I was waiting for someone to see that’

Pete is an enthusiastic supporter of the president and advocates the baseless claim that Joe Biden only won the 2020 election due to voter fraud.

The Black Sun symbol became infamous after it was introduced by top-ranking Nazi Heinrich Himmler during World War II.   

The symbol has since been adopted by numerous neo-Nazi groups, and by Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant.

Sorry, not sorry: He later deleted the post on Monday afternoon and replaced it with this image of a rainbow heart alongside a sarcastic non-apology in which he claimed he'd be 'studying all of the symbols that have ever existed' to make sure he doesn't offend anyone again

Sorry, not sorry: He later deleted the post on Monday afternoon and replaced it with this image of a rainbow heart alongside a sarcastic non-apology in which he claimed he’d be ‘studying all of the symbols that have ever existed’ to make sure he doesn’t offend anyone again

Pete seemingly confirmed he was aware of the meaning of the symbol when a fan stated they recognised it, and Pete replied: ‘I was waiting for someone to see that.’ 

He later deleted the post on Monday afternoon and replaced it with an image of a rainbow heart alongside a sarcastic non-apology in which he claimed he would be ‘studying all of the symbols that have ever existed’ to make sure he doesn’t offend anyone again.   

‘Sincere apologies to anyone who misinterpreted a previous post of a caterpillar and a butterfly having a chat over a drink and perceived that I was promoting hatred,’ he wrote.

Speaking out: On Tuesday afternoon, he shared an Instagram video in which he called the allegations against him 'garbage' while cuddling up to one of his horses

Speaking out: On Tuesday afternoon, he shared an Instagram video in which he called the allegations against him ‘garbage’ while cuddling up to one of his horses

‘I look forward to studying all of the symbols that have ever existed and research them thoroughly before posting. Hopefully this symbol resonates deeply into the hearts of ALL!’  

The former My Kitchen Rules judge also laughed off his latest scandal outside his farm in northern NSW on Tuesday morning, offering a half-hearted apology to those offended by his racist social media post.  

On Tuesday afternoon, he shared an Instagram video in which he called the allegations against him ‘garbage’ while cuddling up to one of his horses.   

Dumped: Meanwhile, 15 sponsors and companies have dropped Pete in response to the neo-Nazi meme scandal

Dumped: Meanwhile, 15 sponsors and companies have dropped Pete in response to the neo-Nazi meme scandal

‘Well just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any more bizarre. The mainstream media have come out and labelled me a racist and a neo-Nazi. The fact that I had to actually google what neo-Nazi meant is pretty telling,’ he said, laughing. 

Meanwhile, 15 sponsors and companies have dropped Pete in response to the neo-Nazi meme scandal.  

The list includes his publisher Pan Macmillan, bookstore Dymocks, BIG W, Coles, kitchenware company Baccarat, Woolworths, House homewares, Target, Kmart, Booktopia, David Jones and Channel 10’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Also severing ties are Readings and Gleebooks bookstores, while Natural Raw C coconut water revealed it had ended its agreement with Pete earlier this year. 

History of Pete Evans’ controversies

October 2014: Pete claims the Paleo diet can prevent autism

March 2015: His book is pulled from shelves due to its bone broth recipe for infants

July 2016: Pete claims vegan women should eat meat during pregnancy, advises against wearing ‘normal’ sunscreen, and claims Wi-Fi is ‘dangerous’ 

August 2016: He says osteoporosis suffers shouldn’t eat dairy

September 2016: Pete claims camel milk could supplement breastfeeding 

April 2017: Pete campaigns against the ‘mass fluoridation of public water’

December 2018: Pete reveals he looks directly into the sun

April 2020: Pete’s ketogenic recipe book is slammed by health professionals and he is fined for promoting his ‘healing lamp’ 

May 2020: Reveals he is an anti-vaxxer during Kyle And Jackie O radio interview 

June 2020: Shares his conspiracy theories about COVID-19 on 60 Minutes

July 2020: Interview conspiracy theorist and anti-semite David Icke on his podcast

November 2020: Shares a neo-Nazi meme and is subsequently dropped from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! as his products are pulled from over 15 retailers