Video of Barbara O'Neill saying lemons cure diabetes is an AI fake

George Driver January 31, 2025
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A banned naturopath features in an AI-manipulated video promoting lemons as a diabetes cure. Image by EPA PHOTO

WHAT WAS CLAIMED

Barbara O'Neill claimed in an interview with CNN that lemons can cure diabetes

OUR VERDICT

False. The video is fake and has been manipulated using AI. There is currently no cure for diabetes.

AAP FACTCHECK - Videos shared on social media featuring naturopath Barbara O'Neill spruiking a supposed diabetes cure on America's CNN network are fake.

The diabetes "interview" is the latest in a number of videos featuring Mrs O'Neill that have been manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) to promote a range of bogus alternative cures.

The video published on Facebook appears to show Mrs O'Neill being interviewed by CNN host Anderson Cooper about what is said to be a cure for diabetes involving refrigerated lemons.

"Dr O'Neill, can we really say that every American can beat diabetes with just their fridge and a couple of lemons?" Mr Cooper seems to ask.

A video of Barbara O'Neill apparently being interviewed on CNN is an AI deepfake. (AAP/Facebook)

"Absolutely we can," Mrs O'Neill appears to reply, before going on to claim an unnamed "lemon mix" can treat diabetes in the absence of prescribed medications or diet and lifestyle change. 

"It'll take you less than 72 hours to look in the mirror and see a happy diabetes-free person. Click the learn-more button now to watch a short step-by-step guide on how to prepare this lemon mix."

The video, however, is fake and has been manipulated using AI. It uses a clip from a real video of Mrs O'Neill promoting "yam creams" but adds an AI voiceover.Â