Weight Loss Ad

Did Ree Drummond reverse her husband's Type 2 diabetes and launch a line of CBD gummies on live TV? No, that's not true: Unscrupulous marketers have hijacked Drummond's name and reputation using Facebook ads and a bogus version of her website "The Pioneer Woman" to sell unproven CBD supplements using a subscription trap scheme. Drummond has been warning her fans…

Did Angelina Jolie give a "rare interview" where she blamed Brad Pitt's drinking for their divorce and then touted a keto weight loss line? No, that's not true: The Oscar-winning movie star never gave an interview where she denigrated her ex and shilled for a weight-loss line at the same time. The fake interview is actually an advertisement for a…

Did an article published by Forbes support the idea that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines directly modify DNA? Not exactly: Although the headline "Yes, The Vaccine Changes Your DNA. A Tiny Bit. That's A Good Thing," was posted on the website, the title of the article was changed shortly after its publication to better reflect the contents of the article. And while…

Did actress Alyssa Milano say that, along with hair loss, she had several symptoms consistent with menopause that COVID-19 caused? No, that's not true: Milano did make a video demonstrating her hair loss from COVID-19 but did not mention other symptoms. The claim appeared in an October 27, 2021, Instagram post (archived here) of a TikTok video. The video included…

Can you intentionally transmit HIV without legal consequence in California? No, that's not true: Although the action was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, experts told Lead Stories that it is still punishable by law. The claim appeared in an Instagram post on October 6, 2021. It features a screenshot of a tweet that reads: In California you can…

Is Jeff Bezos, the founder and former CEO of Amazon, on his way to becoming a trillionaire, thereby having more than three times the wealth needed to "save the planet"? No, that's not true: Although Bezos is the world's richest person with a net worth of more than $200 billion, his potential trillionaire status is just a projection. Additionally, the…

Are COVID-19 deaths a major cause of staff shortages in the United States? No, that's not true: Although economists can debate the relative importance of different factors contributing to the staff shortage -- and even whether there is a widespread shortage -- it's generally agreed that the deaths caused by COVID-19 are not playing a major role. Nearly 80% of…

Did Dr. Anthony Fauci throw his 2020 opening day pitch six feet from home plate? No, that's not true: He was standing near the edge of the pitcher's mound, which is over 48 feet from the front of home plate. The claim appeared in an Instagram post (archived here) by the account "hodgetwins" on June 10, 2021. The post includes…

Will the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only count unvaccinated COVID-19 cases? No, that's not true: The agency says it tracks all cases, regardless of vaccination status. A claim to the contrary appears to be in reference to a recent change in one surveillance system. Namely, the CDC is moving away from reporting all vaccine breakthrough infections to…

Was this product -- keto diet pills -- backed by "every judge on Shark Tank"? No, that's not true: These fake promotions are part of what's called a "subscription scam." These pills were never presented on the TV show "Shark Tank" and were never backed by a single judge. Many of the Shark Tank "sharks" have spoken out about these…