False declare that Oprah has endorsed weight loss supplements
The declare: Oprah launched weight-loss gummy model proven in Fb video adverts
A collection of sponsored movies circulating broadly on Fb use the identify and likeness of Oprah Winfrey to push a well-known clickbait trope, claiming a celebrity-backed product – on this case, weight-loss gummies – can spur vital weight reduction.
“Seize Your Health-Gummy From Oprah!” says the caption of 1 Fb commercial that has been seen greater than 120,000 instances since April 27. “Simply three weeks in, and she or he already melted off 100!”
Different movies with tens of 1000’s of views make related claims, interspersing footage of Winfrey and different celeb figures with pictures of brightly-colored gummy bears.
The Fb ads hyperlink to outdoors web sites the place customers should purchase the gummies. One submit hyperlinks to a website that includes a narrative supposedly from TIME Journal that claims Oprah launched the “weight reduction miracle gummy” product in partnership with Weight Watchers.
//However there isn’t any such article and no such endorsement. These movies promote a rip-off, a spokesperson for Winfrey advised USA TODAY.
“These adverts are an entire fabrication,” Nicole Nichols, a senior vice chairman of communications for Winfrey, wrote in an electronic mail. “Oprah has nothing to do with this gummy product and doesn’t endorse any such weight loss plan or weight-loss capsule.”
USA TODAY reached out to a number of pages behind the ads for remark.
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Winfrey would not promote ‘weight-loss’ gummies
Whereas Winfrey does have a partnership with and stake in WW Worldwide, the corporate previously often called Weight Watchers, USA TODAY couldn’t discover any proof that Winfrey sponsors or sells weight-loss gummy merchandise.
Nichols advised USA TODAY the star has by no means bought weight-loss dietary supplements prior to now and doesn’t plan to promote them sooner or later. She additionally mentioned the footage used within the adverts was not approved by Winfrey.
Nonetheless, movies spreading the false declare have been circulating since a minimum of February 2022, in line with reporting from Politifact and Lead Tales. It is unclear whether or not the pages posting the adverts are related to one another.
Beforehand, USA TODAY has recognized a number of Fb ads that falsely claimed celebrities sponsored their merchandise, together with movies claiming Shark Tank judges had endorsed a keto weight loss plan capsule and others claiming the Pioneer Girl had endorsed CBD gummies that will “reverse diabetes.”
Reality verify:Fb advert falsely claims CBD gummies can ‘reverse diabetes’
Our score: False
Based mostly on our analysis, we price FALSE the declare that Winfrey launched a weight-loss gummy model proven in Fb video adverts. A spokesperson for Winfrey advised USA TODAY that Winfrey has nothing to do with the product, and USA TODAY discovered no different proof of a reliable affiliation between the product and Winfrey.
Our fact-check sources:
- Nicole Nichols, Might 11, E mail correspondence with USA TODAY
- Lead Tales LLC, Feb. 8, Reality Test: Oprah Winfrey Is NOT Endorsing Food plan Tablet That ‘Misplaced Her 60 In 6 Weeks’
- Politifact, Might 10, Oprah Winfrey isn’t hawking weight loss supplements
- USA TODAY, Nov. 16, WW, previously Weight Watchers, unveils new myWW+ program with extra personalization, help amid COVID-19
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Our fact-check work is supported partially by a grant from Fb.
