NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Cover photo courtesy: Wikimedia
In a recent investigative report by The Guardian, Jay Shetty, the celebrated self-help guru and podcast host, faces scrutiny over discrepancies in his spiritual journey, the operation of his Jay Shetty Certification School, and ethical concerns surrounding his rise to fame.
Shetty, known for his popular podcast “On Purpose” and best-selling books like “Think Like a Monk,” has risen to fame with a star-studded guest list, including Michelle Obama, Kim Kardashian, and Matt Damon. However, questions have emerged about the authenticity of some of his claims, and the credibility of his Jay Shetty Certification School
The controversy revolves around Shetty’s claims of spending three years as a monk in India, which some allege took place predominantly in Watford, a town near London, where he grew up in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) community.
The Jay Shetty Certification School, charging $7,400 per term, claims to offer “Postgraduate Diploma (Level 7) qualifications.” While Shetty’s lawyers argue that the school is “OTHM Approved,” the regulatory body Ofqual denies any recognition of Jay Shetty or the certification school.
The Guardian found discrepancies in the school’s brochure, listing universities like the University of Derby, Anglia Ruskin University, and University of Buckingham as partners for progression to a “top-up degree,” which the universities deny.
Gauranga Das, the Iskcon monk mentioned in Shetty’s spiritual origin story, confirmed that the lecture at Cass Business School occurred in 2007, contradicting Shetty’s varying accounts of his age during the event.
Shetty’s journey from a monk to a social media sensation has been marked by controversy, including accusations of using people’s content without consent, distorting his past, and plagiarizing material for his videos.
Critics, including Shetty’s former girlfriend and a practicing psychotherapist, Chaitanya Lila, express concerns about the potential harm of Shetty’s misrepresentation and the lack of accurate mental health guidance in his teachings.
