In the eye of a social media storm, TikTok sensation Matthew Lani has finally spoken out. Accusations have been swirling around Lani, with institutions he claimed to be associated with denying any connection. Amidst this turmoil, Lani has chosen to break his silence.
Lani, who claimed to be a medical graduate from the University of the Witwatersrand, found himself in a whirlpool of controversy when his alleged medical degree was questioned on social media. The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the Department of Health, and even his supposed alma mater have all distanced themselves from him.
In a brief video shared on social media, Lani criticized the media and others for not reaching out to him. However, when News24 tried to contact him, they were met with a voicemail.
Lani expressed his frustration at people using incorrect names when referring to him. He had to email HPCSA to clarify his TikTok handle, legal name, and ID number. His account has since been banned.
Lani gained popularity on social media after he successfully sued his former partner for infecting him with HIV, winning more than R600 000. His popularity soared as he positioned himself as an activist for the disease and promoted his weight-loss pills.
Despite maintaining that ‘Dr Matthew Lani’ is a “brand” he built, documents reveal he has two companies registered under the same name. He insists that ‘Dr Matthew’ is a social media brand and not based on qualification.
Last December, Lani addressed allegations about him being a fake doctor for the first time in a video. This led to him sharing more details about himself and his educational background.
The University of the Witwatersrand was the first to distance itself from Lani, stating they could not find anyone who graduated from the institution under the names presented. The HPCSA followed suit, stating that his name did not appear on the country’s health practitioners register.
The Gauteng health department opened a case against Lani at the Brixton police station for pretending to be employed by Helen Joseph Hospital. A case of identity fraud was also opened against Lani by Dr San.