Kathy Hilton Falls for AI Deepfake Diet Ads Endorsed by Fake Celebrity Endorsements
Kathy Hilton reportedly fell victim to an AI-generated deepfake advertisement promoting a Jell-O diet that featured synthetic videos of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama appearing to endorse the product. The diet caused her severe digestive distress and bloating before she discovered the advertisement and endorsements were entirely fabricated using artificial intelligence.
What happened
Kathy Hilton, 67, revealed during the season 15 reunion of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills that she fell for an AI-generated deepfake advertisement for a Jell-O diet allegedly endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Kelly Clarkson, and Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The advertisement featured AI-generated video versions of celebrities appearing to endorse the diet. Hilton said she followed the diet believing it was legitimate.
Reported impact
Hilton experienced severe health issues from the diet, including severe bloating and digestive problems. She stated: 'It has messed up my whole entire system. I was so bloated I could not fit into anything.'
She initially lost 2 pounds on the first day, which made her believe the diet was working, before the negative health effects occurred. She eventually discovered the advertisement and diet endorsements were fake.
Index analysis
The deepfake ads targeted multiple celebrities; other stars including Kelly Clarkson, Tom Hanks, and Whoopi Goldberg have reportedly been featured in similar deepfake weight-loss ads without their knowledge or consent.
Oprah Winfrey's team issued a statement advising consumers that unless content is posted on Oprah's personal Instagram page, it should not be trusted, and consumers should be cautious before providing personal information or purchasing products.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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