Diet Guru Tanya Zuckerbrot Settles Defamation Suit After Six-Year Battle with Influencer
Influencer Emily Gellis publicly apologizes and agrees to pay $240,000 to Zuckerbrot, whose diet empire was targeted by online attacks.
Diet guru Tanya Zuckerbrot has reached a settlement in her six-year legal battle with influencer Emily Gellis, who accused Zuckerbrot's F-Factor diet products of causing serious health issues. Gellis has publicly apologized and agreed to pay Zuckerbrot $240,000.
"You don’t understand what I lived with," Zuckerbrot said of the prolonged online campaign. "People watched my life being destroyed — to them, it was entertainment. But this isn’t gossip, it’s my life."
The legal dispute began in 2020 when Gellis, who has no medical or nutrition qualifications, began accusing Zuckerbrot of poisoning people and subjecting her to years of online attacks. Gellis alleged that Zuckerbrot's F-Factor products led to a range of severe physical and mental health problems, including gastric distress, hair loss, panic attacks, and even death. She also claimed the products contained dangerous levels of arsenic and contacted retailers to warn them.
Zuckerbrot, a registered dietitian with a master's degree from NYU, launched her F-Factor 20/20 fiber and protein powders and bars in 2018. The products were manufactured in a pharmaceutical-grade facility and tested for safety. Within two years, the company was reportedly generating over $1 million a month and was valued at more than $40 million.
During the controversy, Zuckerbrot appeared on the "Today" show and presented a certificate of analysis for her chocolate fiber/protein powder. Independent consultants reviewed the document and stated that the trace amounts of metals, including arsenic and lead, were within safe levels. Zuckerbrot acknowledged at the time that she regretted not sharing this information sooner.
As the online onslaught continued, Gellis claimed that more than 10,000 people had contacted her with complaints about F-Factor. However, evidence obtained during discovery for the lawsuit revealed that Gellis had received fewer than 100 complaints. Gellis has since acknowledged that her claims about the number of purported victims were inaccurate.
In a public apology filed in New York Supreme Court as part of the settlement, Gellis stated, "What began as an inquiry evolved into a sustained and harmful campaign that was not grounded in verified facts." She admitted that she relied on unverified social media information and that personal allegations she made against Zuckerbrot were untrue. Gellis also acknowledged pressuring brand partners and celebrity clients to distance themselves from F-Factor.
"My actions created a hostile online environment that contributed to humiliation and isolation," Gellis said in her apology. "To Tanya Zuckerbrot, I am deeply sorry. Yes, I want to say that again. I am deeply sorry."
Zuckerbrot's attorney confirmed that Gellis's comment remains that the litigation has been settled. The $240,000 settlement is intended to reflect the emotional harm caused, with $500 to be paid monthly for 40 years. Zuckerbrot stated that this payment structure will serve as a monthly reminder of the pain and suffering Gellis inflicted and the trauma treatment that helped save her life.
Zuckerbrot, who is married to investor Anthony Westreich, plans to relaunch F-Factor in 2027 without rebranding. "I’m proud of F-Factor and the thousands of people who have lived healthier lives because of it," she said. "I’m excited to bring our products back to market and back to the F-Factor community."
