Chris Williamson, a prominent figure in the wellness and podcasting world, has a past linked to controversial student events and a struggling business empire. Williamson, who gained initial fame on the ITV dating show Love Island in 2015, has since rebranded as an international wellness guru with his podcast, Modern Wisdom, reaching one billion downloads.
However, before his current success, Williamson was involved with "Carnage," a student-focused organized pub crawl. This event, popular in UK university towns from 2007, was known for its large-scale drinking and rowdy behavior. Williamson worked as a promoter for Carnage and later became a director of its associated company, Voodoo Events Newcastle Ltd.
Carnage events faced significant criticism. At least 17 student unions banned the events, and authorities noted the strain placed on emergency services. Richard Budden, then vice-president of the National Union of Students, stated that the events endangered student welfare and left unions and police to manage the consequences. The events were also linked to criminal behavior. In one instance, a 19-year-old student was convicted for urinating on a war memorial after a Carnage crawl, an act described by a judge as "disgusting and reprehensible." The organization was also associated with the death of a student, Gethin Bevan, in 2007, though an inquest could not definitively determine the cause of death.
Williamson resigned as a director of Voodoo Events in February 2024, concluding a decade-long tenure. Financial records for Voodoo Events show a decline in net assets. From £8,590 in 2017, assets fell to £3,658 by 2022, with net liabilities of £95 recorded for the financial year ending September 2023. The company's financial position continued to deteriorate, with net liabilities increasing to £894 by September 2025.
Williamson has spoken about a personal transformation, attributing his shift away from his promoter persona to a desire for self-work and personal development. He launched Modern Wisdom in 2018, aiming to extract "life lessons from the smartest people on the planet." The podcast has featured notable guests, including Matthew McConaughey and Jordan Peterson.
Despite his current platform, critics have raised concerns that exposure to Modern Wisdom can lead listeners toward conspiracy theories and the "manosphere." Williamson has rejected these suggestions. The controversy surrounding Carnage events, however, remains a part of his past as he continues to build his wellness brand.