A wide-eyed and dishevelled Pete Evans has fended off questions about a controversial hippy commune he's promoting by calling a reporter 'fake news'.
The disgraced celebrity chef, 48, appeared in promotional videos for the land development scheme in northern New South Wales, which promises healing hubs, a 'sacred geometry pub' and solar-powered cabins.
But the Nightcap on Minjungbal venture at Mount Burrell near Nimbin in the Byron Bay Hinterland has raised eyebrows with a host of mum-and-dad investors who say they've been left thousands of dollars out of pocket by the same developer in a past venture.
Evans appeared gaunt and was noticeably shaking when confronted by a film crew from Channel Nine's A Current Affair over the bizarre development.
A wide-eyed and dishevelled Pete Evans (pictured) has fended off questions about a controversial hippy commune he's promoting by calling a reporter 'fake news'
But the anti-vaxxer and 5G conspiracy theorist quickly dismissed the accusations.
'Nightcap is a wonderful project that I'm looking forward to being a part of,' he told veteran reporter Steve Marshall.
'I didn't create it. You do understand that don't you. I'm not selling anything.
'You do promote fake news over and over.'
At the centre of controversy is that the shared-housing community is set to be built on the same site where a similar project recently failed - leaving creditors and would-be residents owed more than $2.5million dollars.
The Bhula Bhula Community Village, a colony where people paid up to $160,000 each to live off the grid in 'earthships' made from tyres crumbled in 2017, leaving a trail of legal clashes in its wake.
There is no suggestion of impropriety in the Nightcap development.
Adrian Brennock, the sole director of the company that owned the land, placed the firm into voluntary administration but now he's back marketing the 3,500 acre of land with the help of Evans.
Nightcap on Minjungbal (site pictured) is being developed at Mount Burrell near Nimbin
Developer Adrian Brennock said the area has unlimited water and sunlight for solar power
Mr Brennock in a promotional clip says the commune will act as a 'sanctuary' to protect residents from disasters that can take place in the outside world.
'If we do get locked down or there are food shortages, or whatever disasters befall us in the future, we are in a position here to be completely self-reliant,' he said.
Investors' funds are set to go towards a commercial development on the site, which will include businesses such as service stations and pubs that can generate income that will feed back into the community.
Community centres, a 'sacred geometry pub', medical centre and healing hubs are also being designed to be erected on the grounds,
