Pete Evans breaks down in TEARS during 60 Minutes interview

Anti-vaxxer Pete Evans has broken down in tears during a preview clip for his upcoming interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, June 7.

The former My Kitchen Rules judge, 47, who has publicly questioned scientifically-proven medicine such as vaccines, is set to peddle his dangerous views during the one-hour special on Sunday night. 

In leaked footage from the interview posted to Pete’s Instagram over the weekend – the chef is seen bursting into tears as he discusses not being able to hug his elderly mother due to COVID-19 restrictions.    

Elderly people are considered more vulnerable to coronavirus, and social distancing measures have been vital in reducing the spread of the deadly respiratory infection to the wider community.   

‘I think, when a community or a society’s values they’ve held so high… when they see them being taken away… their free will, the ability to go and hug their grandmother or mother,’ Pete said during his rant, before trailing off.

He went on to bizarrely attempt to discredit the medically-proven benefits of social distancing by pointing out that different states within Australia implemented different restrictions. 

However, the Paleo diet advocate failed to make mention that the decrease of COVID-19 cases within Australia is directly proportionate to the rise of social distancing measures throughout the country. 

Beckoning to interviewer Liz Hayes, Pete continued: ‘You’ve seen the stories, the heartbreaking stories of people that haven’t been able to go and see their loved ones.’    

He proceeded to reference the backlash surrounding his recent Instagram post, in which he boasted about flouting social distancing guidelines to hug his mother. 

The photo showed Pete’s daughters Chilli, 15, and Indii, 12, hugging their elderly grandmother, while the former reality star wrote in the caption that he’d hugged his mother ‘every single time’ he saw her during the pandemic.  

Pete tearfully explained that he and his mother initially discussed whether or not to break social distancing rules. 

Breaking down, Pete said: ‘I asked her, “Mum, can I give you a hug? Or can your granddaughters give you a hug?” And that, that action alone… f**k… that, that is what being human’s about.’ 

‘And if I have to live in a society where I can’t hug my mum, and told that it’s unsafe…,’ he said, trailing off again.

Pete explained that his mother ‘didn’t know what to believe’ about the pandemic, and eventually made the decision that they would hug each other.  

‘And she f**king needed it. She needed that. Hell, I needed it and my kids needed it,’ wept Pete. 

Elsewhere in the 60 Minutes interview, Pete appeared to justify his beliefs regarding the supposed dangers of vaccinations and medical advice by questioning the motives of scientists.

‘Science has been bought by vested interests in so many different fields,’ he alleged.     

Pete has implied on multiple occasions that vaccinations can cause autism and other conditions in children.

Last month, he appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O Show to peddle a disproved theory linking vaccinations with behavioural changes in children.  

Pete, who has no medical training and is seeking to profit from alternative health treatments, said: ‘I’ve met so many mothers and their children and they tell me, “Hey Pete, my boy or girl was a healthy, functioning beautiful child – and they’re still a beautiful child – but something happened when they got a shot one day.” 

‘And within two hours, 12 hours, 24, 48 hours, that little boy or girl completely changed their behaviour. And certainly changed their nature.’

There is no evidence that vaccines can cause such changes in children.

Pete insists, however, that he is not an ‘anti-vaxxer’ but ‘pro-choice’.

Meanwhile, viewers have slammed 60 Minutes for interviewing Pete and giving airtime to his dangerous anti-vaccination and coronavirus conspiracy theories.  

While the program doesn’t appear to agree with or support his bizarre theories in the short teaser clip, fans said they couldn’t ‘see an upside’ to sharing Pete’s opinions.

‘This is so irresponsible,’ one person wrote in response to the trailer.

‘How dare 60 Minutes share dangerous, ignorant viewpoints that absolutely will put people’s lives at risk for a few cheap views.’

There are calls for the program to scrap the segment, with some commenters suggesting people could die if they follow Pete’s ‘nonsense’.  

Pete’s contract with Channel Seven was torn up earlier this year, and his increasingly erratic posts and interviews have sparked concerns from a leading medical practitioner.

Dr Harry Nespolon, the president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said last month he feared Evans was ‘in trouble’ and advised him to book an appointment with his GP.

The chef maintains he is perfectly fine, physically and mentally.