If I had to read about this very famous male actor getting severe burns on his private parts from “perineum sunning,” then so do you.
Celebrity trends and wellness fads have existed in pop culture for as long as I can remember. But when the two come together, it can create some serious complications. So, whether it’s dieting or skincare, it’s always best to follow the advice of actual medical professionals, and not, say…actors who haven’t taken a science class since high school.
With that in mind, here’s some wild stuff that famous folks have said and tried when it comes to their health. And, boy, it’s a lot.
1. Tom Brady suggested that drinking large quantities of water could help prevent sunburn.
Jim Rogash / Getty Images, @tombrady / Instagram / Via instagram.com
In his 2017 book, The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance, the NFL great wrote the following: “When I was growing up, and playing outside in the sun, I got sunburned a lot… These days, even if I get an adequate amount of sun, I won’t get a sunburn, which I credit to the amount of water I drink. I always hydrate afterward, too, to keep my skin from peeling.” This was quickly debunked by certified dermatologists, including one doctor who told NBC News: “Being hydrated has nothing to do with getting a sunburn, or whether your skin peels.” Always wear your SPF!
2. Kourtney Kardashian Barker shared claims that drinking her husband’s semen might help increase her fertility.
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In 2023, Kourtney and her husband, Travis Barker, welcomed a baby boy after many months of trying to conceive. Their IVF journey was well documented on The Kardashians in 2022. In one episode, Kourtney listed off a ton of things that her doctor said might help boost her fertility — including drinking Travis’s semen four times a week. The doctor claimed that this would help deal with abnormal thyroid levels and, therefore, potentially increase her fertility; however, experts soon spoke out to debunk the unconventional recommendation. “I think it’s a ridiculous thing for her to be putting out there,” a board-certified obstetrician, gynecologist, and infertility specialist told Business Insider in 2022, calling the suggestion “absolutely ridiculous and not based on anything.”
3. Shailene Woodley said that eating clay “is one of the best things you can put in your body” and that we should be sunbathing our genitals.
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Speaking to Into The Gloss in 2014, Shailene raved about ingesting clay, claiming that it “helps clean heavy metals out of your body.” “Clay is great for you because your body doesn’t absorb it,” she said, “and it apparently provides a negative charge, so it bonds to negative isotopes.” This is not scientifically backed, and the FDA has even issued warnings against consuming bentonite clay, which is what Shailene specifically recommended.
In the same interview, Shailene also raised eyebrows by saying that she sunbathes her vagina to help with things like yeast infections, “other genital issues,” and energy levels. “If you’re feeling depleted, go in the sun for an hour and see how much energy you get,” she suggested. “Or, if you live in a place that has heavy winters, when the sun finally comes out, spread your legs and get some sunshine.” There appears to be no medical backing to this “health hack” (known as “perineum sunning”), and skincare professionals have advised against trying it due to the dangers of painful sunburn.
4. Beyoncé went two weeks without eating solid food.
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To prepare for her role in Dreamgirls back in 2006, Bey talked about dropping 20 pounds in the space of two weeks by doing the Master Cleanse, which involves giving up all solid food and drinking just a concoction of lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup every day. The Master Cleanse has been widely criticized and would not be recommended by health professionals. And, for what it’s worth, I’m not sure Bey would recommend it either, having said the severe hunger made her feel “evil.”
5. Christian Louboutin suggested that wearing high heels can help women orgasm.
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This is a wild one. In a 2011 interview with the Sunday Times, Christian Louboutin — yep, the real person behind those expensive red-bottom shoes — made the following claim: “What is sexual in a high heel is the arch of the foot, because it is exactly the position of a woman’s foot when she orgasms. So, putting your foot in a heel, you are putting yourself in a possibly orgasmic situation.” As funny as it sounds, this isn’t true — and I guess the only dangerous thing about his claim is that it could’ve impacted the bank accounts of a few folks who might have tested the theory by spending $800 on a pair of So Kates.
6. Megan Fox said in 2010 that drinking apple cider vinegar before meals keeps you slim by cleansing “out your system entirely.”
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IDK about you, but I’m always hearing celebs talking about apple cider vinegar and how it apparently aids them. There have been some anecdotal benefits to consuming apple cider vinegar (which you can read about here), but on the whole, it’s not some magical detoxifier that it’s been made out to be. It’s not gonna “cleanse out” your body (whatever that means), and to use it as a dieting tool is not advisable.
7. Kesha drank her own pee.
Marcus Ingram / Getty Images, Ethan Miller / Getty Images
Although it’s gross, not advised, and could cause potential health risks, drinking urine has long been a health trend, and it sounds like Kesha fell victim to the craze. “I heard it was good for you. That was, like, the rumor,” she told the Hollywood Reporter in 2013. “So I tried it. I wouldn’t recommend it. It was pretty gross. And I don’t think it really did anything very beneficial to me, so, yeah, I wouldn’t probably do it again.”
8. Kim Kardashian was smeared with her own blood.
Nbc / Getty Images, @kimkardashian / Via instagram.com
Kim K is pretty shameless when it comes to trying out wellness trends, having once previously said she’d “eat poop every single day” if it’d make her look younger. And way back in 2013, she tried out the infamous “vampire facial,” which, if you don’t know, involves a doctor drawing your blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to extract the PRP (platelet-rich plasma), and then injecting or applying it topically to the face. Not only does it look pretty unpleasant (and scary), but the procedure — which is supposed to enhance the skin’s overall appearance — can also have risks. There are plenty of fans of the treatment, although Kim previously went on the record to say it “was really rough and painful” and the one thing “that [she’d] never do again.”
9. Josh Brolin claimed he sunburned his asshole trying the “perineum sunning” trend.
Gilbert Flores / Getty Images, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert / Via youtu.be
You know that genital sunbathing thing Shailene was talking about a while back? Well, another celeb who apparently tried that trend was Josh Brolin. In 2019, the actor issued a warning to fans on IG: “My pucker hole is crazy burned and I was going to spend the day shopping with my family and instead I’m icing and using aloe and burn creams because of the severity of the pain. I don’t know who the fuck thought of this stupid shit but fuck you nonetheless. Seriously.” It’s not exactly clear whether or not he was joking, but either way, it’s wild that he decided to share this with the world. After all, severe burns are the risks that skincare professionals warn of if you’re looking to get into “perineum sunning.” Take notes!
10. Adrianna Lima’s diet before the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
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In 2011, Adrianna Lima told the Daily Telegraph that she works out twice a day and eats a “no solids” diet in the nine days running up to the VS Fashion Show. Then, 12 hours before she hits the runway, she stops consuming any liquids at all, “so you dry out.” “Sometimes you can lose up to eight pounds just from that,” she told the outlet. Like Beyoncé’s Master Cleanse, this is seriously NOT a healthy thing to promote, and, as a result, Adrianna faced a lot of backlash. Notably, she initially defended the crash diet, telling E! News: “I just have an athlete’s mind, and I appreciate doing this thing. It’s not that I do crazy diets throughout the year. I just do it for this particular thing. After this show, I become normal again!” However, she later said it was a “misunderstanding,” and urged people not to replicate her regimen.
11. Gisele Bündchen allegedly said she thought sunscreen was “poison.”
James Devaney / Getty Images, Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images
Speaking at the launch of her organic skin care range, Sejaa, back in 2011, Gisele was quoted as saying that she was reluctant to wear sunscreen because of chemicals. “I cannot put this poison on my skin,” a Vogue report recalls her saying at the time. “I do not use anything synthetic.” The apparent comments were not received well, and the Brazilian supermodel eventually spoke out to set the record straight. “I do use sunblock but I also try my best not to be exposed to the sun when it is too strong,” she clarified on her blog at the time. “I feel we all need to pay more attention to what we are putting on our skin. I definitely know the importance of using sunscreen and I try to look for more natural options.”
12. Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop told women to put $66 jade eggs in their vaginas — and got sued for it.
Nbc / Getty Images, Neilson Barnard / Getty Images
When it comes to trying out wild wellness routines, no one does it like Gwyneth and Goop. In the 17 years that Goop has existed, the site has promoted all kinds of outlandish health hacks, but perhaps nothing as memorable as the infamous vaginal egg saga. If you need reminding, in 2017, Goop began selling jade and rose quartz eggs (for $66 and $55 respectively), suggesting that women should insert them into their vaginas to help “increase vaginal muscle tone, hormonal balance, and feminine energy in general.” None of these claims were scientifically backed, and gynaecologists warned that using the eggs could potentially lead to harmful results, such as toxic shock syndrome. As the story goes, Goop was sued by California’s consumer protection office over the vaginal egg claims, which were described as “misleading advertising,” and the company wound up paying out $145,000 to settle the suit “quickly and amicably.”
13. Brandi Glanville seemingly gave herself a chemical burn from using Nair as a “beauty hack” for her face.
Paul Archuleta / Getty Images, @brandiglanvilleofficial / Via tiktok.com
If you’re familiar with Brandi, you’ll know that the Housewives alum has been struggling with some health issues for some time now. For well over a year, she has shared theories that she has a facial parasite living below her skin, which she believes is causing disfigurement. There’s a lot to be said for what Brandi seems to be experiencing, but earlier this year, she sparked concern online after claiming she’d caused the parasite to move by putting Nair hair removal treatment on her face. Claiming that it “exfoliated” her face, Brandi said in a TikTok video, “Good news, you guys don’t have to spend a lot of money on pills and lasers anymore, because I decided to put Nair on my face… Nair is the fountain of youth.” Notably, her face looked incredibly sore and irritated, leading people in the comments to suspect she’d given herself a painful chemical burn by leaving it on for longer than the recommended time.
