Real Housewives of Orange County supporting player Brooks Ayers has been caught in a lie – a big lie. The 53-year-old businessman, Vicki Gunvalson’s ex, claimed he had Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Brooks’ alleged illness was a major plot thread during the most recent season of RHOC. Some cast members, most notably newcomer Meghan King Edmonds, weren’t buying the story and a psychic even claimed that Brooks was most likely not telling the truth. During the recent RHOC reunion, Vicki and her daughter, Briana Culberson, expressed their doubts as to whether or not Brooks was ill, but he swore he had proof. During an interview with E! News’ Melanie Bromley, he provided documents, including 3 bills, from City of Hope where he claimed he received treatment.
Well, the team at E! News suspected something fishy and decided to do a little detective work. They uncovered a number of inconsistencies between Brooks’ invoices and another patient invoice provided by City of Hope. In addition, a representative from City of Hope released a statement affirming that David Brooks Ayers was never a patient at their facilities.
Brooks has since engaged in a little backpedaling, stating he never actually told Vicki he was dying of cancer and asserting that he was still undergoing periodic blood tests. He’s sticking by his story but his detractors are also sticking to their guns. In a post-reunion interview, Meghan Edmonds expressed her thoughts about the whole situation:
“To accuse someone of faking cancer is a huge accusation that you should never take lightly, but I felt that way and that’s why I said it and that’s what started it. To see the other woman now say, ‘Yeah, you’re right, it doesn’t add up. It doesn’t make sense. This is a lie,’ it feels good because I’m not crazy. I have seen evidence and the evidence points to a lie.
[From E! News]
Why the need to lie? We all know “reality TV” is rarely that, but to lie about having a terrible deadly disease for the sake of ratings is truly reprehensible.
A new low for “reality” tv. The only thing that is left is faking death. 😒
Stupid thing to lie about, let alone disgusting at that, on tv since it can be easily disputed by the hospital in question and such. But then again, we see I over and over again that stupid people will do stupid things in order to get attention and their precious 15 minutes of fame. There is entertaining and then there is just sad tv.
People already knew he was lying. Vicki’s friends knew and so did Vicki. They all said it wasn’t true on the reunion show as well.
He may have thought HIPAA would keep the hospital from answering questions. But I don’t think confidentiality applies to someone who was never a patient…. He should have figured out a way to be a patient first for something else, then they probably couldn’t say anything.
Right. HIPAA laws prohibit a hospital from saying that someone is receiving treatment (unless there is a signed waiver allowing the disclosure). HIPAA laws do NOT prevent a facility from saying someone ISN’T or WASN’T a patient.
He was playing the (fake) cancer card in an effort to get the other cast members to cut him some slack.
Everyone saw through him immediately, except for Vicki. Can one be so desperate for companionship that they cannot see something so obvious? Apparently, so.
This man gives Southern men a very bad name.
So, allegedly Vicki was in on the scam because it not only was a way to draw sympathy to her boyfriend that everyone hated, BUT ALLEGEDLY, it was a vehicle to promote her and Brooks’ latest investment, club detox. Word on the street. IMO, Vicki knew the whole time. She dirty.
Reality tv IS a cancer which continues to grow. Sadly, just like cancer, these shows, in particular the real housewife franchise shows, show no signs of being eliminated. Aside from Top Chef or a few shows that actually teach you something or have some entertainment value, there is no reason to keep them on the air. I say this as Kris Kardashian counts her millions and more and more talentless, boring, annoying people who put their lives on display thrive. while hard working Americans struggle to understand why.
Amen. Any trace of interest I had in the clothes and houses has been extinguished by the mountain of sleaze poured on top. ugh.
Because, unfortunately, hard working people pay attention to these shows. The only way these shows will go away is if the rest of us pretend those people don’t exist. They subscribe to the school of “no publicity is bad publicity”. Even “hate” watching means increased ratings. Anyone who wants these shows, and these people, to go away have to do a complete blackout. If they’re on tv, change the channel. If they are on a magazine cover, don’t buy it. If there is an article about them on this or any other site, don’t comment on it, or even click on the link. When people lose interest, these people will go away.
Do it apply to the Kardashian tribe? They have millions of followers…and why?
Well said, Nancy.
I find it amusing when people who frequent celeb gossip blogs stick their noses up at reality TV. Get off your high horse. Trashy entertainment is trashy entertainment is trashy entertainment.
Well Jay it’s like this. One can appreciate a television program that has a beginning, middle and end, if you will. Television can be a nice diversion on evenings when you just want to chill. However, what you call trash is something me or my husband hauls to the lawn for disposal, something I would love to see happen with most of the reality tv shows. By the way, we walk to the lawn. We go to the country to ride our horses. But, happy to amuse you, my pleasure.
Jay – you are so right! Human nature loves the opportunity to feel (somehow) superior to others. What better vehicle than “reality” TV. “They’ve got it all, but oh my, they behave so badly!” Shock, horror …. Just like reading Celebitchy 😉
? what ?
Plus the term reality TV includes shows like “House Hunters” “cooking competitions” etc. Most of my favorite shows are reality shows. There’s very, very few scripted shows that I like nowadays. Basically just The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones and that’s pretty much it. British reality shows are the best, I LOVE ‘your house in their hands’ and ‘obsessive compulsive cleaners’ those shows are AWESOME!!
That guy is a con-man/slime ball.
And only a con man would think I got caught in a lie because of fake documents. You know what will help more fake documents! Genius! Those won’t be scrutinized like the last ones. At least study what the thing you are forging to clear your good name so the it takes more than a E! Journalist to expose your story.
Why the need to lie? We all know “reality TV” is rarely that, but to lie about having a terrible deadly disease for the sake of ratings is truly reprehensible.
Sadly this wasn’t even for ratings he pulls this BS when relationships go badly. She is the third girlfriend he has done this to. He has pulled this with her twice. Once to manipulate her into leaving her marriage and being with him. This time he wasn’t ready for the gravy train (including cars and veneers) and he wanted to live rent free in a beautiful, large home.
The more cynical RHOC fans also think he saw the opportunity to make a few bucks shilling his coffee enemas and resveritrol infusions and endorsing or working with the holistic lady and credit her with saving his life.
How do you know he did it to other girlfriends? Was that on the show?
@smowflake a former girlfriend came forward a while ago and said he faked it with her….and he tried it again.
Snowflake, this was brought up during the reunion by Tamra I think. Don’t know if it was mentioned during the series though.
He is foul in every way.
When someone like his character stands out for being sleazy on a show full of women and men who are selling a fake version of their own lives…that’s not good. I am only halfway ashamed to admit that I watch RHOC periodically, and this dude has been so slimy the entire time he was on. Yuck.
I frankly don’t know why shows like the Housewives of….., KUWTK, and others are considered reality shows. They are all scripted and if you watch carefully some of these performers are reading their lines from cue cards or a monitor. Just call them a soap opera or a satire.
He should really be ashamed of himself. How dare he!!! I knew from the get-go that he was full of sh*t!! And, I have no doubt that Vicki new all about this. She can say differently, but I don’t believe her at all. She’s also F.O.S, and personally I think it’s time for her to retire from this show. Her time is done, and she’s such a psycho!!!
Buuut….all these people just make up fake sh*t for the show’s plotline, don’t they? You’re telling me that *a psychic reveal* was part of an ongoing plotline in which this person was allowed to run with a false claim but it wasn’t scripted all along? As always, the TLCs and Bravos could choose to look into what’s being promoted on their shows, but instead they choose not to. Sounds like they all have egg on their face.
Yolanda Foster from RHOBH is next. I’m not saying she is faking the lyme disease and suffering from Munchausen but there is something theatrical about it in her case. I think it has something to do with her marriage and attention of course. It’s gonna be a mess.
Finally, someone who agrees with me about Yolanda Foster. I’ve never been able to stand her. David seems very disconnected from her…who knows (or cares).
I’m skeptical about Yolanda, too! I always have suspicions when an illness seems to become trendy. I know that many people do suffer from chronic Lyme and that we have a lot to learn about it, but it’s too convenient to me that a handful of celebrities have suddenly been afflicted. And two of Yolanda’s kids in addition to her? That seems statistically unlikely.
Interesting. I’ve always like Yolanda ~ of everyone on that show, she seems the most genuine to me. Her husband seems like a big of an arrogant d***.
I don’t think you can fake having a picc line in your heart, which she had removed on the show. I’m pretty sure she is really sick with something, but having 2 kids have Lyme as well is suspect. Also she said something about how much her two children have suffered so much with this disease. I don’t know about Anwar, but Bella has been working as a model and doing runway shows, and has had a public relationship with a popular musician (The Weeknd?). I don’t think you can be suffering greatly from Lyme disease while doing all of those things.
Having seen my father on his deathbed due to malignant melanoma, and just experiencing this whole process with him I thnik these people have no soul. No empathy, no nothing….Devastating
Sorry you had to go through that. And I agree. I was 22 when I watched my father slowly die from cancer. But I can’t say this surprises me. Anything for the buck these days.
My grandmother died from pancreatic cancer. When I heard he tried to convince Brianna he *used* to have it, I was calling BS on the while scam. Anyone whose dealt with that knows it is an incurable death sentence. And he says that to a nurse!? Dude is pathological.
At one point Vicki was shilling juices that were supposed to cure cancer and diabetes (among other things). This whole debacle spun out of control, but what gets me is that this isn’t even the first time Brooks has faked cancer!
Yes!! The detox juice they were trying to sell just adds a whole other layer of ick to an already icky situation. Like were they planning on claiming this stuff cures his cancer since you know, he never actually had cancer?
Yup. That’s what I heard. She dirty.
Did he really lie, or was he paid to lie to create a story line? Andy Cohen needs to step down as the producer/head of programming at Bravo. At one time, it was actually a really good, cutting edge channel that did more to highlight minorities, and their families, in a positive light than most any other station. But then the Housewives became its bread and butter, and all of those women are very close to Cohen, they are pretty much the only shows playing on Bravo. But The Housewives are as stale and moldy as month old bread so a lot of the story lines on Bravo are now as carefully crafted as the Kardashians.
I have to wonder too, as he seems to be just a stooge. Backpedaling on something that can’t be proved either way because of HIPPA laws, makes me wonder who this benefits. Not him because, he looks just despicable faking a heartbreaking disease to many. Bravo and the show benefit because of the publicity and people will probably watch to see what happens. It creates drama, which is what they want.
He really lied, but Vicki also ran with it. Likely to make money and an attempt to garner sympathy (because God forbid you just be nice to people).
A girlfriend he had in the past said he faked cancer with her and this was before Brooks was on the show. Seems likes its a pattern with him.
Who would date him at this point?
He clearly is trying to avoid paying child support on his 4 kids. UGH.
I don’t know about this guy or show, as I try to limit my mindless tv to a few shows and this isn’t one of them, but I do know HIPPA laws and a medical facility or person cannot confirm or deny anyone’s treatment, bill etc.. If someone does this, they are breaking the law. Just saying that the evidence is very suspect. If he admitted this fraud, in addition to being a con artist he is very dumb to boot. I just don’t see the point in this even from the ratings publicity point, because when you fake cancer, if you get caught you are going to get skewered. I would think he wouldn’t backpedal at all, as you really can’t prove it either way. Maybe people will watch to see what happens, but if that is true that is reason this and even worse stuff will continue to happen, as people see an upside to doing something so crazy.
That is untrue. HIPAA protections do not extend to individuals who have not ever been served by a practice – there is no relationship in the first place for confidentiality to protect. In this instance, this particular conman was using a forged City of Hope bill and making public claims that were being posed to City of Hope, wasting resources. A hospital spokesperson making any form of statement does not violate HIPAA.
There is always a motive for someone like Brooks, whether it’s pity to solidify a relationship, or a formal con to sell anti-cancer juices or whatever. He faked it. No need to say why it’s impossible for him to have done so.
You are incorrect, as facilities cannot deny or speak about any records at their facility or not. By denying someone’s treatment they could be indirectly opening information about others. There are legal avenues that they can used for con artists, and they may have employed them which is why he is backpedaling although I doubt that as most medical facilities don’t have time or the inclination to do this, but confirming by a gossip site or the media is not one of them.
I don’t think I explained the reason real well, but think of it this way if you deny someone didn’t have treatment even if it is legitimate, then when you don’t deny someone else you are insinuating they had treatment there. See the problem. This is the reason for the no response.
Re HIPAA: im inclined to believe that City of Hope and its legal team are very familiar with the constraints of the laws regulating release/confirmation of information. I seriously doubt they would say anything regarding something so petty if it wasnt to distance itself from impending or on going controversy. He clearly tried to create a story for himself, cling to this woman for the purpose of staying on the show and monetizing from it. Whether Bravo knew it (side eye to you, Bravo) and let it play out or claims zero knowledge is kind of secondary.
Apparently this guy has a seriously shady past and has pulled this shit before.
Exactly. HIPAA did not apply to this situation. I’d trust a cancer center’s general counsel over bad analogies.
Brooks finally released a statement admitting the records he produced are FAKE. Why? Because of City of Hope’s statement calling out the falseness.
Any other cancet survivors want to take turns kicking him in the crotch?
I bet my husband would love to take a swing at him, seeing as how he only has one testicle due to testicular cancer and is about to begin his first round of chemo. Real chemo, not fake-for-ratings chemo.
this is a disgusting low for bravo.
Cancer is causing suffering for kids, adults as we speak…..sick
Bravo was in on it if they had that psychic say he didn’t have it storyline.
Vicki knew early on and is back pedaling bc she did have this Storyline go in her favor
I am angrier at Bravo. There will always be despicable con-artists, but a network that facilitates this just seems even lower if that is possible, and they have their patsy in him to take all the heat. Glad I don’t watch this show or that channel much. People shouldn’t either there are plenty of other mindless tv to waste your time on other channels.
Lying about cancer is just so DARK. Like, why???
Well, as a two-time survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (rather than non-Hodgkin’s) myself, I can safely say that I’ll be avoiding this man like the plague.
“You’re telling me that *a psychic reveal* was part of an ongoing plotline in which this person was allowed to run with a false claim but it wasn’t scripted all along?” Thank you! In April ’14, a psychic told me I would meet a tall, blue-eyed man by the end of that summer. Still hasn’t happened. But I didn’t need an E! “journalist” to help me figure that out. It’s all a scam, and the fish, as always, is rotten at the head.
Go. Away. For good.
Omg, I thought he was telling the truth! I felt bad the other women were accusing him of lying! I thought who would lie about that, on TV?!! Omg
No one believed him at the end and Vicki looks like a fool. Poor Megan. Brooks really is a master con artist.
He’s not a master con artist, some women are just really dumb or delusional or in total denial.
Sooo…I admit I watch the housewives shows. After watching Russell’s suicide and Kim’s whole addiction playout it really doesn’t surprise me that they’d go for a fake cancer storyline.
Russell’s suicide was the end of it for me. I stopped watching. Not that he is some innocent victim, but the fact that someone on a show took their life and yet everything just kept going afterward? No.
But Vicki went to the doctors with him, she said she saw the lesions on the x-rays etc… what kind of weirdos are they?
I have to say though, as bad as Vicki is, Tamra is the NASTIEST woman i have ever seen on any of these shows. I actually stopped watching because i couldn’t stand her angry, bitter face any more. I hear her daughter won’t talk to her. Not surprised. Tamra just wants to be famous. My question is, what does Eddie see in her?
I also dislike that woman who is married to the filthy rich plastic surgeon? SHe thinks she’s so much better than everyone and all she is doing is riding his wallet. The houses and all the nannies etc. ugh, she’s awful.
Vicki said a whole variety of stuff. First it was she was in the appointments with him, then it was that she was actually in the waiting room and he didn’t let her accompany him, then it was she was a little suspicious of him as well. It’s been very clear for a while that something suspicious was up.
Embarrassing…I love this show. He was accused of lying about the cancer before he even got with Vicki. So I’m not sure if it was a plot for higher ratings or if he’s just a shitty person.
How utterly shameless and disgusting. I’m speechless.
All these story lines on these housewives shows are fake. Producers pick the villian and the victim when they start filming each season. The housewives may pick the story to build on sitting around a big table and the catfights begin. Too many people fall for Andy and his bag of bs. Used to watch when it seemed half way real. Brooks needed a story line to film and made a poor choice. Megan needed another season so she went after him. Simple as that.
There is a special place in hell for people that fake illnesses like this douche.