Comedian Magda Szubanski, known for her role in Kath & Kim, has alerted fans to a fraudulent online scheme exploiting her name and that of Dr. Ginni Mansberg to promote a bogus health product.
Exposing the Vital Hemp Hoax
In a recent Instagram video, the 65-year-old entertainer called out the scam targeting unsuspecting buyers of a product called Vital Hemp. “Hi peeps, it’s bulls*** scam alert time again,” Szubanski stated. She emphasized that she has never met Dr. Mansberg or discussed personal health matters like urination frequency with her.
“There’s something going around on the internet. It’s just a scam trying to flog some product called Vital Hemp. It’s all bulls***,” she continued. Szubanski advised followers to verify information directly on her Instagram page. “The rule of thumb, I would say, is if you want to know if something is true or whether I’ve said it, come to my Instagram page and that’s where I put my posts,” she added. “This is very annoying and I really hope you haven’t wasted your money. Happy Friday, love you all.”
In the video’s caption, she clarified that Dr. Mansberg is also a victim. “Dr Ginni is NOT the perpetrator!! She’s being used just like me,” Szubanski wrote.
Third Scam This Year
This marks the third online hoax involving Szubanski in 2026. In January, she debunked an AI-generated image showing a woman resembling her in a hospital bed, falsely claiming it sought donations for her cancer treatment. “Ok. Dear peeps. This lovely lady – whoever she is – is not me. I hope she’s doing well,” she posted. Szubanski urged fans not to donate to any such fundraisers.
In February, a fake death announcement circulated on social media using a recent photo of her, captioned “Thank you and goodbye Magda Szubanski. 1961 – 2026.” It falsely quoted her family announcing her passing. Fans quickly identified it as a hoax, noting that major news outlets would cover any real news. Comments included: “If Magda had passed, it would be all over the news,” and “It would be on the news before anywhere else. Not true.”
Health Update Amid Hoaxes
Szubanski revealed her diagnosis of rare Mantle Cell Lymphoma in May 2025. In February 2026, she shared positive news of entering remission after chemotherapy. “It’s not a cure, but if I’ve got a good remission, hopefully that will mean I’ll be able to keep the cancer at bay for a good long time,” she stated.
