A growing rivalry between two fitness sensations has moved away from the internet and into the courtroom. Bikini Body Guide founder Kayla Itsines and Freelee the Banana Girl’s Leanne Ratcliffe have opposing health mantras that have caused conflict between the two.
This led Itsines to lodge a lawsuit claiming that Ratcliffe and her partner, Harley Johnstone, have defamed her in a series of social media posts in which they claim that Itsines’ program starves people and that her partner, Tobias Pearce, uses steroids.
Ratcliffe has refuted allegations, claiming that rather, they are exercising their right to free speech about eating disorders.
Both sides have outspoken supporters, with Freelee’s court appearance at the South Australian Supreme Court attracting 100 of her fans, who chanted her slogan “carb the f*** up”.
In terms of reputation, the stakes are high for both parties thanks to their strong presence across social media platforms.
Ratcliffe is known for her YouTube videos, which promote her raw, high-carb and vegan diet, by which she eats 51 bananas a day. She currently has 340,000 subscribers.
In comparison, Itsines is a personal trainer who owns The Bikini Body Training Company Pty Ltd. Her high-intensity workouts have won her over 2.3 million Instagram followers and 1.3 million Facebook fans.
