Dietitian YouTuber Abbey Sharp Admits to Prioritizing Views Over Science – Here’s What Creators Can Learn
If you’ve been anywhere near YouTube’s nutrition corner lately, you’ve probably seen the drama around Canadian registered dietitian Abbey Sharp. She has 730K subscribers, years of TV appearances, a bestselling cookbook, and her own supplement line. But earlier this summer, she uploaded a video that set her audience on fire.
In her confession video, Abbey admitted that some of her most popular content wasn’t built purely on science — it was built on what got views. That means, at times, she gave health advice based on what played well in the algorithm, not what the research said.
The problem? Viewers didn’t see it as nuance — they saw it as backpedaling and a lack of accountability.
The Backlash Was Brutal
The comment section turned into a battlefield. Other YouTubers called her out for:
- No real apology. “I don’t hear an apology, I hear excuses.”
- Harming viewers. Some shared they developed health problems after following her advice.
- Compromising ethics. “You’re an influencer first, dietitian second.”
- Trend-chasing. Critics accused her of hopping on popular movements like “Health at Every Size” to stay relevant.
Abbey’s brand was built on trust. People followed her because she had credentials and entertainment value. But when you admit you were chasing clicks, you risk losing the credibility that made people listen in the first place.
Why This Matters for Every Creator
I’m not here to cancel Abbey Sharp — I’m here to pull lessons from her mistake, because every creator (especially those with professional expertise) needs to hear this.
1. Integrity beats trends. If you’re positioning yourself as an authority, your credibility comes first. Always.
2. The algorithm is not your boss. You can be engaging without distorting the truth or cherry-picking facts.
3. If you mess up, own it. A genuine apology takes responsibility — not just “I’m sorry you felt that way.”
At the end of the day, trust is your most valuable asset as a creator. You can recover from a drop in views. You can’t easily recover from a broken bond with your audience.
I hope Abbey uses this moment as a real turning point — and that it reminds all of us to protect our integrity before chasing viral success.
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