The brothers recently took to Instagram stories to apologise.

Brothers Stephen and David Flynn, also known as the Happy Pear, faced backlash online after they circulated a video promoting their latest podcast episode entitled: Period pains, PCOS, Endometriosis & Menopause symptoms. The clip featured an interview with London-based Dr Nitu Bajekal, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist who discussed the role diet has on long-term health and suggested that mushrooms could reduce women’s risk of developing breast cancer. The podcast episode remains live onsite at the time of writing this article, although the clip was deleted from Instagram. In the days following, several doctors took to social media to refute the information shared.

Don’t believe everything you see. This video by @thehappypear says that mushrooms reduce your risk of getting #breastcancer. This is NOT true. pic.twitter.com/hV1k4huBG3

— Dr Liz O'Riordan (@Liz_ORiordan) April 22, 2022

Taking to Instagram on April 25, the brothers apologised for the “upset” caused by the video.

“We posted a video recently about breast cancer and a number of people got upset. And we just wanted to say that was never our intention and we’re really sorry for upsetting anyone. It was a snippet from a podcast that we recorded with a doctor on women’s health. But just wanted to say apologies.”

When we reached out for a statement, The Happy Pear said this of the situation:

“The Happy Pear acknowledges that some of the content in a recent post (on Instagram and Facebook) promoting an upcoming podcast with Dr Nitu Bajekal, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist from London UK, has caused offence as a few of the statements were not qualified appropriately. We sincerely apologise for any offence caused, it is never our intention to mislead or to misinform.”

The statement added that The Happy Pear did not claim to be medical experts and that they [The Happy Pear] “partners with many highly qualified and experienced medical practitioners and we always defer to their professional expertise and opinions.” The duo went on to say, “Our main purpose serves to highlight some of the health and lifestyle benefits of plant based eating. We will endeavour to ensure that this does not happen again.”

Header image via Instagram/thehappypear

READ ON: Public pathway opened to Murder Hole Beach in Donegal