KUALA LUMPUR: American rapper and internet personality Bhad Bhabie, known for her hit "Gucci Flip Flops" and her viral 2016 appearance on Dr. Phil, recently opened up about her health struggle on social media.
Addressing speculation about her appearance, the 21-year-old artiste, whose real name is Danielle Bregoli, confirmed she is undergoing cancer treatment, explaining that her medication has caused weight loss, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"I'm sorry my cancer medicine made me lose weight," she posted on Instagram, reassuring fans that she is "slowly gaining it back."
Bregoli's announcement came after weeks of social media comments and rumours surrounding her thinner appearance.
Some followers had joked about her eating habits or suggested she might be using weight-loss drugs. Bregoli, however, urged fans to stop jumping to "the worst narratives."
A family member later confirmed Bregoli's diagnosis to TMZ, sharing that she was under medical care but provided no further details.
Bregoli's mother, Barbara Bregoli, defended her daughter online, responding to gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who suggested Bhad Bhabie might be faking her diagnosis for attention.
In a recent video, Hilton referenced another viral personality's death hoax, saying, "I hope that's the case because it would suck if she actually had cancer at such a young age."
Barbara fired back, expressing outrage at Hilton's comments.
"I pray to God one of your children never gets cancer," she wrote, recounting her own cancer journey and sharing a personal photo from after her first diagnosis.
Both Bhad Bhabie and her mother emphasised that speculation about her health is hurtful, urging critics to "stop with the assumptions."