LONDON, United Kingdom — British TikTok influencer Brittany Miller has issued a public apology after admitting she fabricated claims about having cancer, following renewed scrutiny over a 2017 fundraising campaign linked to her name.
Miller, 29, who hails from Oxfordshire and boasts over 3.5 million followers for her food and lifestyle videos, came under fire after a fundraising page alleging she was battling gastric cancer resurfaced online.
In a tearful video posted on Monday, the mother of two confessed that she lied about the illness, describing it as “one stupid sentence that I deeply regret.”
“I said something to someone within my immediate circle in confidence. I said I had an illness, which was cancer,” Miller said. “I didn’t do this with malicious intent or to scam people. I did this out of desperation, to keep the people in my life close to me.”
She explained that the false claim was made during a period of severe mental distress. “In 2017, I was depressed, suicidal, and lost. I had lost my partner and my job. I wasn’t in a good place mentally,” she added.
Miller said the fundraising page was created by a friend without her approval and that she shut it down as soon as she discovered donations were being made. “I didn’t take a penny from it,” she insisted.
The influencer, who now focuses on parenting, cooking, and lifestyle content, said she has since grown from the experience and is committed to personal healing. “I know how horrible this disease is, and how much it affects people. For that, I am so, so sorry,” she said.
Thames Valley Police said it could not confirm reports that Miller was convicted of fraud by false representation in July 2020 but noted that its investigation into the incident had been concluded.
The BBC reported that it had reached out to Miller for further comment but had yet to receive a response.