Oprah vs. Acai
Posted on 29. Oct, 2009 by TDS in Antioxidant, Rants & Raves
Oprah Winfrey and America’s favorite physician — Dr. Memhet Oz — want you to know they don’t endorse dozens of açaí berry products that claim their seal of approval — and they’re suing to prove it.
“Many Americans have seen images of me, and Oprah and others supporting, it would appear, products that actually don’t work in the ways that are described,” Oz said in an exclusive interview Thursday with ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “And more importantly, when consumers trusting us try to buy these products over the Web, what they end up getting are fake products, pills that don’t really have what’s promised in them. They’re often duped into paying more than they should. If my picture is next to a product, endorsing it and supporting your purchase of it, I did not give them permission.”
Winfrey and Oz have filed suit against 40 companies either selling açaí or related products, with their name endorsements on them.
According to their complaint, such companies are “fabricating quotes or falsely purporting to speak in Dr. Oz’s and/or Ms. Winfrey’s voice about specific brands and products that neither of them has endorsed.”
“Consumers should be aware that neither Oprah Winfrey nor Dr. Oz are associated with nor do they endorse any açaí berry product, company or online solicitation of such products, including MonaVie juice products,” a statement read on Winfrey’s Web site. “Neither Oprah nor Dr. Oz are associated with nor do they endorse any specific resveratrol product, company or online solicitation of such products. Any companies that misrepresent their affiliation are making false claims.”
Attorney General Lisa Madigan has also filed suit on behalf of consumers allegedly tricked by the fake endorsement scam.
“For thousands of dieters, the quest for a miracle product has become a nightmare,” Madigan said in a press release. “Far too often, consumers end up losing their money — not weight — in these deals.”
Some companies market the berry as a dietary supplement in the form of tables, juices, smoothies and drink powders, claiming the berry provides increased energy levels and sexual performance.





Danielle G
It’s about time they did something about this. I bought Acai Berry Extreme from a website that claimed it was endorsed by O and gave a”FREE” trial. I had to cancel my credit card and go through hell to get them to stop charging my card every month. It went on for 3 months before I finally got rid of them. I hate to give supplements a bad rap from some scam artist becasue I really do believe in them but you gotta know who you are buying from!
admin
Thanks Danielle! This is exactly why we created The Daily Supplement. Send us more details and the website address and we’ll post it in on the site under Scams. If there is a product you want more information about please send it to feedback@thedailysupplement.com and we’ll put our team to work on it.
– TDS
Mason
Go Oprah! They deserve it! You just can’t trust what you read online anymore
belle b
do you really think oprah didn’t expect this to happen? you’d think she already knows that there is going to be a ripple effect from everything she says. this isn’t the first time a scam was born out of what was on the oprah show.
jenp
Oprah should just make her own supplement line already, not that she needs anymore money.