Social Networking Platform Facebook has banned Australian celebrity chef and conspiracy theorist Pete Evans for spreading misinformation about the novel coronavirus repeatedly. Facebook said Thursday made a clear statement that it would not "allow anyone to share misinformation about Covid-19 that could lead to imminent physical harm" or falsehoods about Covid-19 vaccines. 

The company statement reads, "We have clear policies against this type of content and we've removed Chef Pete Evans' Facebook Page for repeated violations of these policies". The Chef Evans on Instagram said on Thursday that he was glad to be "one of the catalysts for a conversation" about freedom of speech and described the science around the pandemic as "BS". Facebook owned Instagram page of former Chef has 278,000 followers is still active, however, and includes posts that encourage Sydney residents to defy public health officials and refuse to get tested for the virus. 

Facebook was involved in banning some high profile accounts that shared misinformation and hate speech, most notably those of conspiracist Alex Jones and far-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos. Several companies recently assaulted Evans and his books were pulled from the shelves after he posted a "black sun" Nazi symbol on social media. Australia's largest city is currently battling to contain a Covid 19 cluster of more 100 cases that ended months of low community transmission. 

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