Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott has quietly backed out of his scheduled appearance at conference run by DoTERRA, a controversial multi-level marketing company that sells essential oils.
The wheelchair tennis champion, 31, was announced last month as the keynote speaker for DoTERRA’s RISE convention, an annual conference for Australian and New Zealand customers.
‘We are honoured to announce our Keynote Speaker for dōTERRA Rise Convention 2022 – Dylan Alcott, AO!’ the company wrote on Instagram next to a photo of Alcott.
Pulled out: Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott has quietly backed out of his scheduled appearance at conference run by DoTERRA, a controversial multi-level marketing company that sells essential oils. (Pictured: Alcott and his girlfriend Chantelle Otten on June 30, 2019)
‘Voted Australian of the Year 2022, Dylan is not only one of our country’s most successful and well-recognised Paralympians, he is a beacon of light in the lives of many, inspiring, mentoring and supporting young people and proving to us all we can RISE above our greatest obstacles,’ the statement continued.
Alcott, one of Australia’s most decorated athletes who now works as a part-time motivational speaker, was due to give his keynote address on May 7.
But the convention’s run sheet and DoTERRA’s social media posts announcing his involvement have now been deleted or amended.
Appearance: The tennis champion, 31, was announced last month as the keynote speaker for DoTERRA’s RISE convention, an annual conference for Australian and New Zealand customers
Scrapped plans: Alcott, who is a part-time motivational speaker, was due to give his keynote address on May 7. (Pictured: the original schedule for RISE, with Alcott as keynote speaker)
Gone: The convention’s run sheet and DoTERRA’s Instagram posts announcing his involvement have now been deleted or amended. He was replaced by Mark Matthews, as seen here
Who is Dylan Alcott?
Alcott was left paraplegic following an operation to remove a tumor around his spinal cord shortly after he was born.
At 17, he became the youngest ever wheelchair basketball gold medallist at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
He was inducted as a member of the Order of Australia in 2009, aged 18.
Stellar career: As a tennis player, Alcott won gold medals in the Men’s Quad Singles and Doubles at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. He retired after the Australian Open in January
As a tennis player, he won gold medals in the Men’s Quad Singles and Doubles at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
He retired after the Australian Open in January.
In addition to his sporting career, he has worked extensively in the media as a radio host on Triple J and the Hit Network.
He also co-hosted ABC’s The Set and Nine’s The AFL Footy Show.
On May 2, just days out from the event, DoTERRA finally announced that Alcott had been replaced by surfer Mark Mathews as keynote speaker.
‘Due to unforeseen circumstances, Dylan Alcott, AO will no longer be joining us,’ the company wrote on Facebook.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Alcott and DoTERRA for comment.
Replaced: On May 2, just days out from the event, DoTERRA finally announced that Alcott had been replaced by surfer Mark Mathews as keynote speaker
Replacement: Mathews is a motivational speaker and big wave surfer
Alcott had been criticised on Twitter for lending his name to the DoTERRA brand.
‘This is not good @DylanAlcott you should not be doing this,’ one person tweeted. Another asked: ‘Why is Dylan Alcott shilling for DoTERRA?’
The American company has come under fire over the years over misleading claims its products can help cure cancer, autism and Covid-19.
There is no scientific evidence that aromatherapy or the use of essential oils have any curative properties outside of relaxation.
‘Not good’: Alcott had been criticised on Twitter for lending his name to the DoTERRA brand
DoTERRA has also been criticised for using a multi-level marketing (MLM) model to sell its products.
Also known as direct selling, MLM is a commission-based scheme in which individuals can earn money by persuading others to buy and sell the company’s products.
In reality, most MLM participants end up losing money, as the top-down structure means only a select few will turn a large profit.
Controversial: The American company has come under fire over the years over misleading claims its products can help cure cancer, autism and Covid-19
Dumped: Disgraced chef Pete Evans (pictured) has peddled DoTERRA in the past, but the company dropped him in November 2020 after he posted a Neo-Nazi meme on Facebook
‘If you are in business, yes you look after your own needs, but there are limits and morality – everyone is supposed to have that. [MLM recruits] operate outside of that,’ Gerard Brody, the CEO of Consumer Action Law Centre, told the ABC.
‘People down the end are simply ripped off. It’s bad-taste capitalism.’
Disgraced chef and anti-vax conspiracy theorist Pete Evans has peddled DoTERRA in the past, but the company dropped him in November 2020 after he posted a Neo-Nazi meme on Facebook.
‘Following recent social media posts and statements by Pete Evans, dōTERRA Australia and New Zealand has assessed his conduct as inappropriate and is suspending its business relationship with him,’ DoTERRA said in a statement.
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