By: Ellen Cans
The war of words on social media between entrepreneur and wellness influencer Emily Gellis Lande and diet guru and F-Factor founder Tanya Zuckerbrot has reached its climax with a third lawsuit.
As reported by the NY Post, the social media spat started back in 2020 when Gellis Lande criticized Zuckerbrot’s weight loss and management program which allows participants to “eat carbs… work out less”. Gellis Lande allegedly claimed the F-Factor diet, which boasts celebrity fans including Megyn Kelly, made people sick and was poisonous. Zuckerbrot responded by slapping Gellis Lande with a lawsuit for defamation. Zuckerbrot is a dietician with a master’s degree in nutrition and food studies from New York University. She has two bestselling weight loss books, outlining her patented diet method, which touts a diet high in fiber. She also led development of F-Factor products including High Fiber/Protein Powders and Bars. In March, again Zuckerbrot had sued Gellis Lande in a $250,000 suit, claiming she soiled her reputation.
Now, there is a new, third, $1.5 million lawsuit against Gellis Lande, brought forth by Jordyn Bloom, who worked for her aunt at F-Factor. The suit alleges that Gellis Lande, who boasts 182,000 Instagram followers, falsely accused Bloom of threats and harassment just to increase her own social media following. Gellis Lande claimed on social media that while she was pregnant Bloom threatened to “knock her teeth out”.
As per the Post, the first $500,000 lawsuit, filed in 2020 in New York Supreme Court, in which Zuckerbrot alleged defamation, is still pending, and Gellis has filed a countersuit. The second lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court on March 3, alleges that Gellis made false claims online — including that Zuckerbrot and her supporters were targeting her and her unborn baby daughter while she was about eight months pregnant. Zuckerbrot also adds more of theinitial complaints alleging: “Gellis’s social media misconduct has caused Zuckerbrot to suffer reputational damage and devastating emotional distress. Zuckerbrot fears for her safety and the safety of her family based on Gellis’s unhinged, malicious, and harassing Instagram posts.”
Gellis had reportedly posted on her Instagram Story: “Hi Tanya- I know youdon’t want articles running about how you bully an 8 month pregnant woman. No amount of $$$$$ will EVER suffice to clear your name from bullying a f—ing baby.” The suit filed by Zuckerbrot also says, “Gellis is accusing Zuckerbrot of paying people to go after Gellis, a criminal activity, thus it is a false and defamatory statement.”
When asked for comment on the latest suit, Gellis Lande retorted, accused The Post of focusing on the fight for the paper’s own commercial benefit, while ignoring a Manhattan Federal Court lawsuit against Zuckerbrot from a user who alleges the website is not accessible to the blind. The legal dispute has “devolved” into “fingerpointing,” said Gellis Lande’s lawyer, Henry Kaufman, who added, “We’re talking about who said worse things about whom, who did it first, who did it second, who’s responding and who’s initiating.”
A lawyer for Bloom commented to say that his client didn’t threaten Gellis Lande. Bloom’s case “will not only vindicate Ms. Bloom, but also set precedent so the legal system can protect individuals from bullying, slander and libelous behavior on the internet,” said attorney StevenHarfenist.
