Who is Tracy Piper? Bella Hadid's GoFundMe appeal for 'holistic healer' friend as she battles Lyme disease sparks backlash

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Supermodel Bella Hadid has garnered attention for her recent endorsement of a GoFundMe campaign supporting her friend and "holistic healer," Tracy Piper.

Hadid got on Instagram to address her absence from prominent fashion events, revealing her hidden struggle with chronic Lyme disease since 2012. Her post highlighted her journey through nearly 15 years of invisible suffering and her engagement with extensive holistic treatment.

Hadid's candid portrayal of her battle with the disease has raised awareness about Lyme disease and offered insights into alternative treatment methods. However, her recent Instagram story, wherein she shared and donated to Tracy Piper's GoFundMe initiative, has generated controversy.

Hadid described Piper as her sister, mentor, and an integral figure in her own journey in the post. "This is my sister, Angel, mentor," she captioned the post. "She has helped me so much on my journey and I hope anyone who reads this finds her so she can do the same for you."

"This is her story," she added above the fundraiser link.

Who is Tracy Piper?

Tracy Piper is the founder and proprietor behind The Piper Center for Internal Wellness, a holistic healthcare establishment in New York City. With convenient downtown and midtown locations, Tracy's center offers her services as a licensed massage therapist, acupuncturist, Chinese herbologist, and certified colon hydrotherapist.

With a career spanning over 25 years, Tracy claims she has honed her skills through rigorous training in both Eastern and Western health practices.

Her educational journey includes a Biology degree from the University of the Virgin Islands, alongside certifications and degrees earned from institutions such as the Swedish Institute and the Pacific College of Health and Science in New York City.

She has also obtained certifications from institutions like the Canadian Natural Health and Healing Centre, the New York Center for Iridology, and the International School of Detoxification, among others.

Bella Hadid's GoFundMe endorsement raises questions

The controversy arose when the GoFundMe campaign that asked for "assistance to complete the purchase of our upstate New York location to continue helping people with health challenges find alternative & holistic ways to improve their health" was removed. This was after Hadid's endorsement.

A representative from GoFundMe clarified to BuzzFeed that they opted to "temporarily suspend" the fundraising effort because it violated the platform's regulations, which strictly forbid campaigns that involve "rewards or giveaways".

The company promptly assured that they were actively collaborating with Piper to rectify the matter and reinstate her page. However, this temporary suspension has made observers suspicious of Piper.

Hadid's endorsement of Piper's venture has sparked discussions, with skeptics emphasizing Piper's claim that her methods helped her father become "cancer-free" after limited success with conventional treatment.

Criticism has emerged around the potential pseudoscientific nature of holistic healing practices, drawing parallels to Piper's questionable wellness claims.

Tracy in a personal message had stated, "I'm happy to say that my own father is now cancer free after only 1 conventional treatment for the disease AND attending 5 of my retreats and adhering to the lifestyle changes I have coached him through."

This declaration, for numerous individuals, sparked apprehension and a reason for concern as Piper seemed to be advertising her retreats through this declaration about her father being miraculously cured by her methods.

In addition, Hadid's disclosed medical records unveiled her interaction with controversial figures like Kenny De Meirleir, who was tried and found guilty of illegally importing and administering the drug Nexavir in Belgium in 2018, as reported by Cosmopolitan.

Her 2014 patient care file when she was being treated by Dr Meirleir stated: "She has been ill for more than 1 1/2 years now. She is extremely exhausted and depressed and does not attend school anymore. She feels ill all the time and has memory problems."

Bella Hadid's post triggers controversy over holistic healing claims

Amid her fight against Lyme disease since 2012 , Hadid's Instagram series documented her exploration of diverse treatments, both through holistic and conventional methods.

This has prompted concerns and inquiries about her choice of medical professionals. These discussions were echoed in a Reddit thread addressing her endorsement of Piper's GoFundMe campaign and the broader topic of holistic healing.

In one of her Instagram caption, Hadid wrote: “If I had to go through all of this again, to get here, to this exact moment I’m in right now, with all of you, finally healthy, I would do it all again. It made me who I am today".

"I have so much gratitude for and perspective on life,” she continued. “This 100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease, co-infection treatment, almost 15 years of invisible suffering, was all worth it if I’m able to, God willing, have a lifetime of spreading love..."

Fans criticize Bella Hadid after she shares Tracy Piper's GoFundMe page

Fans of Bella Hadid criticized her after she shared friend's GoFundMe page. One wrote, 'im reading this and she says her fathers cancer was “cured” after 1 conventional treatment and attending this “retreat”??? please don’t donate to rich people holistic/natural medicine places like this"

Another wrote, "If I understand correctly, possible quackery aside, this isn't a fundraiser for a person who helped Bella Hadid. This is for a person whose paying client was Bella Hadid, who wants a new facility so that she can continue to take other paying clients. This person is asking for donations to expand their business. Get a loan sis."

One penned, "Um tbh I’m fine with celebs sharing gofundmes. But no I will never give money to people who want to buy “holistic” medicine facilities. That story about her dads cancer being cured through her “alternative medicine” is scary. God I feel like I’m seeing more and more women online fall into this quack medicine bs and it’s so so scary."