Instagram Influencers Busted Promoting Cyanide Diet Drink
A host of reality TV stars turned social media influencers have been caught promoting a fake diet drink containing cyanide.
Lauren Goodger, Mike Hassini and Zara Holland – who have a combined 1.3 million followers – from the UK were secretly filmed auditioning to promote the poisonous ‘Cyanora’ diet drink as part of a BBC investigation into influencers by Irish comedian Blindboy Boatclub.
“We were very transparent,” Blindboy said in the documentary.
“The product was clearly labelled hydrogen cyanide, and we wanted to see if they would consider selling it to their fans… which would kill them.”
The influencers were told the product wasn’t being launched for a few months and that they would not be able to try the drink until it was released to market.
But this didn’t dissuade the social media stars from ‘auditioning’ for the promotion gig.
Goodger, who was filmed alongside her manager, admitted she had never tried the ‘Skinny Coffee’ product which she previously promoted to her followers.
Her manager confessed it was industry practice for influencers to promote products they had never tried.
“Half of these posts you see … they’ve not even tried it,” she said.
Despite the damning evidence, Goodger still defended her comments, telling The Sun Online they were made in ‘the heat of the moment’.
“I was asked to read a script which I did to screen test me for the job. This script was given to me at that precise moment,” she said.
“No deals were signed and it was an audition. As with any audition you people please and say what they want to hear.
“They asked me would I promote the drink without using it. In the heat of the moment I said yes and also said I hadn’t tried Skinny Coffee in the hope of getting the job.
“Of course I would never promote anything that contains poison and proper checks would have been made before any promotion.”
Former Love Island star Zara Holland [feature image] initially told the fake promoters she would be happy to promote the product without trying it, before her agent interjected to say she wouldn’t promote it without trying it.
Similarly Mike Hassini, who once appeared on The Only Way Is Essex, agreed to promote Cyanora on his Instagram.
Latest News
An Educated Guess: Three Ways Hypothesis-Based Marketing Can Work For You
Look, it's top tips to mastering hypothesis-based marketing that mercifully doesn't require revisiting Year 12 maths.
Melinda Geertz Steps Down As Leo Burnett CEO, Emma Montgomery To Take Reins
After three decades, Melinda Geertz has stepped down as Leo Burnett CEO.
Saatchi & Saatchi’s Donation Dollar Continues To Make Waves At Cannes Lions Live While More Aussie Agencies Secure Success
Cannes Lions has announced the winners in the second Awards Show of the week during Cannes Lions Live, which runs until June 25th. On day two, winners were celebrated in the Social & Influencer Lions, Media Lions, PR Lions, Direct Lions, Creative Strategy Lions and Creative Data Lions – all within the Reach Track, in […]
Cresta’s Awards See Upturn As Ad Spend Starts To Return
Cresta Awards has announced that despite having a few more weeks before entries close, this year’s Cresta Awards has surpassed its entries for the whole 2019 Season. Cresta sees this as evidence, not just of evolution in its own awards but of a wider measure of industry confidence and resilience in many markets. The awards […]
Ashley Madison Shifts From Shock To Female Empowerment
Ashley Madison, the online dating site for married people famous for its shock advertising, is toning down the message, instead creating content aimed at empowering women with the message it’s fine to have an affair. Recently, B&T interviewed GroupM’s chief technology and transformation officer, Ryan Menezes. When asked what was the best brand he’d never […]
72andSunny APAC CEO Chris Kay Named Saatchi & Saatchi UK CEO
Saatchi & Saatchi UK has announced Chris Kay as its new CEO of the agency as Sam Hawkey leaves. Kay joins from 72andSunny where, for the past three and a half years, he was CEO for Asia Pacific and a global partner. Prior to moving to Australia to set up the APAC region’s Sydney and […]
Facebook Announces Plans For World’s Largest Shoppable Social Media Platform
Gerry Harvey meanwhile has sworn to build his own social network in retaliation to Facebook stepping on his turf.
Clems Melbourne Snares Charlotte Stevens To Head Myer Business
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has announced Charlotte Stevens as group business director, leading the Myer account. Stevens is returning home to Australia following a decade in London, most of which was spent at Portas Agency. During her time in London, Stevens led Sainsbury’s fashion, homeware and beauty portfolios and worked across a range of retail accounts […]
Microsoft Reaches $US2 Trillion Value As Apple Eyes $US3 Trillion
Do you ever regret not studying computer science at uni? Probably not... but perhaps you should.
Facebook’s VR Ad Play Hits A Snag
VR still hasn't truly taken off yet and we blame that awful Ready Player One film.
Reports: Google Draws The Ire Of EU (Again)
B&T's editor takes great pleasure in an opportunity to use 'ire' in a headline, despite having no idea what it means.
PubMatic Secures Data Partnership With HYP Technology
Think of data partnership news as being similar to celebrity hook-ups, just without weird combined names like Bennifer.
Publishers Cash In On EOFY Sales
Where are these same sales when you have to buy gifts for loved ones during Xmas, we ask?
Flybuys & The Trade Desk Help Connect Online & Offline Sales With New Partnership
Connecting online and offline data can now be as easy as serving a Woolies roast chook for dinner with this new deal.
Household Targeting’s Role In The Cookieless Future
In this piece, Tim Sleath, VP of Product Management at VDX.tv, discusses household targeting’s role alongside other identity solutions and how advertisers can create an effective household strategy for their campaigns. As the advertising industry plans for the removal of third-party cookie support and moves toward adopting more privacy-centric solutions, marketers will need to identify […]
Cartelux Extends Agreement With MINI
This should come as good news for all 'Small Car Only' car spots in shopping centres.
“Bots Are Programmed To Sell, Not Care!” AI & Algorithms Roasted In Creepy Robot Ad For US Travel Brand
If The Terminator taught us anything, it's not to start a fight with the robots.
Highsnobiety Partners With Citizens Of Culture To Help Lead Its Media Partnerships In Australia
Culture-leading publisher Highsnobiety continues to evolve its local operations with the appointment of Citizens of Culture as its strategic partner across media operations within Australia. Highsnobiety is a premium global brand dedicated to cultural pioneers, with work spanning across digital platforms, print media, documentaries, cutting edge events, a shopping platform and a full service creative […]
Investigation Reveals That Amazon Destroys Thousands Of Dollars Of Unsold Stock, Including Laptops, TVs And Face Masks
This investigation may seem hard-hitting, but just wait till we tell you what Bakers Delight does with its finger buns.
Mega Sports Blunder Wrap! Testicles, Streakers, IKEA’s Ronaldo Stunt & What’s Under A Scotsman’s Kilt
B&T's condensed a week of sports disasters into this handy read. Stranger still, it's sans any NRL players whatsoever.
HEADS UP: Entries For B&T’s Best Of The Best Awards Close This Week!
B&T’s Best Of The Best Awards close this Friday! So don't prove yourself the fool of the fools by missing out.
Fiftyfive5 Expands Local And Global Talent With 45 New Hires
Insight-led consulting business Fiftyfive5 reports continued growth with 45 new hires between June 2020 and June 2021 across all geographies and levels, bringing the agency headcount to 147.
Ben Roberts-Smith’s Defamation Trial Put On Hold While He Awaited COVID-19 Results
Yes, the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case sent to run for weeks amid reports Ben's already run out of ties.
Samsung CMO Josh Grace Among Several To Exit Tech Giant’s Corporate Marketing Team
Samsung CMO Josh Grace announces departure. Can now reveal he was secretly watching Apple TV the entire time.
Everything You Need To Know About The New DDO Laws & How They Will Affect Your Marketing Campaigns
Here's all you need to know about the new DDO laws. That's design & distribution obligations, not Doris Day's obituary.
Shopper Media Expands ISPT Partnership To 20 More Shopping Centres Nationwide
Shopper Media, Australia’s fastest-growing retail out-of-home media company, today announced its expanded partnership with ISPT that will see it install 230 screens across a portfolio of 20 shopping centres nationwide.
Red Bull Launches An Office Games Tournament In Australia To Give Wings To Workers
Red Bull gives you wings. Although too much of it can also give you caffeine toxicity, anxiety and heart palpitations.
Witchery Partners With GlamCorner To Boost Subscription Shopping
Australian fashion brand Witchery has partnered with B Corp GlamCorner as part of GlamCorner’s subscription box offering as the demand for everyday essentials soars. This partnership marks another milestone for the Australian fashion industry towards becoming more circular and introducing more paths to reduce textile waste. Customers nationally will be able to rent more of […]
MASH Appoints Damien Miller As First General Manager, Wins Work With Experience Co And Minor Hotel Group
Following significant new business growth, MASH has appointed former VICE head of client services Damien Miller as its first general manager. It has also announced two new major client wins.
“We Can Learn From One Another”: How Supporting Refugees Makes Australia’s Business Culture Better
To celebrate World Refugee Day today, B&T's bringing you this. Still, don't expect the same on World Gouda Day.
