Ads shared on social media platforms like Facebook often claim celebrities such as Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton, Oprah Winfrey and “Shark Tank” investor Lori Greiner are selling or endorsing keto gummies.
Some of the ads even include videos that appear to show celebrities talking about the alleged benefits of these gummies, such as rapid weight loss in only a matter of weeks.
That’s led many VERIFY readers to email and text us asking if these celebrities are really endorsing keto weight loss gummies.
THE QUESTION
Are celebrities endorsing keto gummies?
THE SOURCES
- Dolly Parton’s Instagram account
- Lori Greiner's accounts on Instagram and X
- Oprah Winfrey’s Instagram account
- Associated Press report published in October 2023
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- AARP
- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
- Florida Attorney General’s office
THE ANSWER
No, celebrities are not endorsing keto gummies.
WHAT WE FOUND
Keto is a low-carb, high-fat diet that is often touted as a weight loss strategy. The diet is aimed at keeping a person’s body in a state of ketosis, which occurs when your body burns fat for energy instead of glucose.
Though keto gummies, pills and other supplements claim to help keep your body in a state of ketosis, there’s no definitive proof that they work, the Cleveland Clinic explains.
Multiple celebrities, including Dolly Parton, Oprah Winfrey and Lori Greiner, have denied selling or endorsing keto gummies through their social media accounts.
The gummies are instead a version of a common scam that uses “miracle” health products to take your credit card information and potentially surprise you with unwanted charges. VERIFY has more information about how this type of scam works here.
In a 2022 Instagram post, Winfrey said she has “nothing to do” with weight loss gummies or diet pills.
Parton’s official Instagram account shared a similar message in February 2023, writing, “Dolly Parton is not affiliated with, has not endorsed and is not associated with any keto or CBD gummy product. She’s more the cake, cookie and cornbread type.”
Greiner even addresses the false claims in her account bios on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter. They say: “Warning - I DON’T do Keto or Diet Products!”
VERIFY did not hear back from Melissa Kates, Clarkson’s publicist, by the time of publishing. But Kates told the Associated Press in October 2023 that the singer “does not have any affiliation as a spokesperson” for any “weight loss products/programs.”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Better Business Bureau (BBB) both warn against trusting celebrity endorsements of weight loss products like keto gummies.
Some scammers have used fake celebrity testimonials and endorsements – complete with doctored photos and videos – to “generate buzz and profits,” the FTC says.
In 2018, the BBB said it conducted an investigative study that found dozens of celebrity names were used in various advertisements, including those for weight loss products, without their knowledge or permission.
The BBB and FTC recommend researching the product or company online, regardless of who purportedly endorses it.
You can search for the product or company’s name alongside words like “scam,” “problems” or “complaints” to see what other people are saying about it.
Here are three more tips from the FTC, BBB and other experts on avoiding keto gummy scams.
1. Avoid products that promise ‘miracle’ results or weight loss without diet and exercise.
Many advertisements claim weight loss products like keto gummies will “melt fat,” boost your metabolism or help you lose weight quickly.
But, “in most cases, there is no proof that the products work at all,” the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine says.
The FTC says dishonest advertisers will often make false promises to get you to buy their weight loss products. Here are some examples:
- You’ll lose weight by only taking the pill or supplement.
- You’ll lose weight without diet and exercise.
- You’ll lose weight without watching what you eat.
- You’ll lose weight permanently if you use this product.
- You’ll lose 30 pounds in 30 days.
People should be “especially skeptical” of claims that they do not have to change their eating habits to lose weight, according to the BBB.
The Florida attorney general’s office agrees, adding “there is no pill that allows you to lose weight permanently without dieting and exercise.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), losing one to two pounds – rather than one pound a day, as some ads claim you can – is a healthy goal that helps people successfully keep the weight off long-term.
2. Don’t fall for “free” trial offers.
Our sources say people should be wary of free trial offers for weight loss gummies and supplements.
Many people who have signed up for “free” trials for weight loss products wind up paying a lot of money and are billed for recurring shipments they didn’t want, the FTC says.
The BBB and AARP call this type of scam a “subscription trap.”
AARP, the BBB and the FTC offer a handful of tips for avoiding subscription trap scams:
Make sure your cart only includes the items you want to purchase and does not include signing up for a subscription if that isn’t what you want.
Read the terms and conditions. Make sure you aren’t agreeing to charges you do not want to incur.
Look for information on how to cancel future shipments or services.
Watch out for boxes that are already checked for you. This may give the company permission to charge you past the free trial or sign you up for more products that you have to pay for in the future.
If you do sign up for a free trial, our sources recommend marking the cutoff date for cancellation on your calendar and setting a reminder. People should also watch their credit and debit card statements to see if they are being charged for something they didn’t order.
3. Be wary of products without an ingredients list and check with your doctor.
If the product you’re looking to purchase doesn’t have an ingredients list, that’s a red flag.
“Some companies have been accused of not advertising certain ingredients that come with harmful side effects or mix adversely with prescription drugs,” the BBB says.
While the FDA does not approve supplements, it has issued public health notifications for many weight loss products over the years because they contain potentially harmful ingredients.
A 2015 study conducted by officials with the CDC and FDA estimated that more than 23,000 people visited the emergency room annually due to the side effects of dietary supplements. Weight loss supplements were among the most common culprits.
Before purchasing any weight loss products, our sources recommend talking to a doctor, licensed nutritionist or dietitian to confirm if they are safe.
How to report scams
The FTC has a website for reporting scams or you can call 877-FTC-Help.
You can also report suspicious or misleading ads and scams to the Better Business Bureau and FBI online.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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