DA probes fake ads
 |
| May |
 |
| Jui |
Celebrities face the prospect of legal action as the Food and Drug Administration cracks down on the murky world of celebrity product endorsements on social media.
Half a dozen actresses and presenters have been caught up in the saga so far, after agreeing to ''review" cosmetic and dietary products which, even if they have FDA approval, have come under scrutiny for exaggerating the benefits to consumers.
 |
| Pinky |
 |
| Ying Yae |
Actresses Pitchanart ‘‘May’’ Sakakorn, Warattaya “Jooy” Nilakhuha, and Savika ''Pinky'' Chaiyadej, along with presenter and "pretty" product promoter Nonthaporn ‘‘Ying Yae’’ Theerawattanasook are upset after being linked to the growing scandal.
They say small-time traders or direct sales agents for the products have tampered with the wording of their reviews or endorsements to make bogus claims.
However, while the celebrities insist they take the precaution of checking whether the products carry FDA approval and are safe for consumers, many admit their scrutiny does not go far enough.
Actress May, who comes from a family of lawyers, says she is mulling legal action after a Facebook site claimed she was in trouble with the FDA for endorsing an "illegal" product.
"I asked my manager to contact the manufacturer, who said the FDA had merely called them in for questioning; there were no arrests," she said. While media reports are reluctant to identify the goods, a weight loss product is thought to be the one causing the fuss for May.
"I get approached for reviews often, but I check whether the products have FDA approval. In this case I have asked them to delete my picture, and they agreed," May said, adding she accepted the work only a few days ago.
"I am unhappy about the claims on the FB site, which apparently has a beef with the manufacturer. I have given them 24 hours to take down the post. If it carries on I will sue, as the claim is defamatory.”
May offered an apology to Thais who must wonder why she would back such a product. “I do check, but I will have to be more careful in future," she said.
"I see the brand name on billboards all over the city, and many other celebrities have reviewed it. When I come across problems like this I have to look closely at who has deceived me. I come from a family of lawyers, you can't write just whatever u like," she growled.
Actress Jooy and presenter Ying Yae, meanwhile, who endorsed a skin whitening cream, say someone on the manufacturer's side took their picture and added their own caption to make exaggerated claims.
Jooy said she was hired to endorse the product on social media for several days, and later delete the post. "I am not happy to be connected with this fuss. I am not a presenter or direct sales rep, so I had no intention of promoting a product which is illegal," she said.
Presenter Ying Yae, whom one report described as the queen of product endorsements, said she is familiar with consumer protection law, and knows there are limits.
“They sent me a brief saying the skin gets white in just a few days, but I took that bit out, as I have studied the consumer law and know I would be in danger of getting sued if I said that. But there are many traders or agents who might not know.
“I hope my case serves as a lesson to those selling merchandise. You can’t take a celebrity’s picture and add whatever wording you like (to boost sales),” she said.
Ying Yae said she knew the woman who asked her to endorse the cream, and didn’t think she would go as far as taking her picture and tampering with the wording. She called for more written agreements between celebrities and manufacturers or their agents to cover reviews and endorsements.
“The agreements should cover not just the owner but agents or mum-and-dad traders as well, as sometimes people lower down the chain will create an ad and the owner knows nothing about it,” she said.
Actress Pinky said she noted about 10 celebrities have been caught up in the saga, of whom she is one. She suspected they were chosen at random for the reviews. She said her mother, seniors, and friends had also backed the product.
"They hired me last year to review it. I accepted it, and did as I was asked, but normally I look at how trustworthy a product is.
“I think if they hire me, they must have passed various processes. I am not that serious about it. However, I realise that these days people can sell almost anything they like. Next time I will have to review products which are better than this,” she said.
FDA deputy secretary-general Somchai Preechathaweekit said the agency is contacting sites which ran the ads to get them taken down, and also the manufacturers. He did not say if celebrities who endorsed the goods would be called in.
Actress slams bank
 |
| The freelancer |
A freelance actress is seeking a better deal from a bank after she fell victim to a call centre gang which siphoned 2 million baht from her account.
The actress and ex-model, 36, who appeared in media reports wearing a face mask to disguise her identity, visited a centre for combatting call-centre gangs at Police National Headquarters last week after earlier complaining to Huang Kwang police.
She said she received a call on Dec 27 from a woman claiming to be an official, who said the actress was being sued after taking out a car loan in Prachuap Khiri Khan province and missing payments.
"She handed me over to someone claiming to be a policeman, who tricked me into handing over my ID card number, bank account number, and credit card details," the actress said.
"I didn't suspect anything at firs, when the call ended I made some inquiries and found official's name does exist."
However, the gang behind the scam quietly withdrew her money, and sold her savings in an investment fund.
"On Jan 4, the bank called saying money had gone missing from my account, and my savings fund sold. The gang took out the money electronically many tens of times, in amounts of 500-100,000 baht. Money was also sent overseas, which alerted the bank," she said.
Huay Kwang police, she said, are making progress in the probe. However, she wants the bank to explain how such a thing could happen.
"I wasn't the one making the transfers, and I have never used a banking app; I always do transactions over the counter. So I want to know how the gang did it. I also want the bank to show some responsibility. I have tried to contact them, but they keep putting me off," she said.
 |
| May receives flowers from an admirer |
Actress Pitchanart ‘‘May’’ Sakakorn is wearing a smile after an admirer sent her Valentine's Day roses, while her former boyfriend, stuck in Japan, sounds sad to be alone after their recent breakup.
May said a young shareholder in her business sent her a large bunch of roses last week to mark Valentine's Day.
He was aware she had recently broken up with star footballer Chanathip ‘‘Messi Jay’’ Songkrasin, and wanted to cheer her spirits on the day of love.
May posted an image of the roses on her IG, and tagged it to the young man, who posted images of him presenting her the roses in the back of a car. "For a special person, on a special day," the caption read.
Netizens asked if May ahd found a new lover, but she denied it. The young man, who has his own girlfriend, was merely a business partner and friend.
"At first I didn't think I would get any flowers this year, but ended up getting heaps," she enthused.
Jay, who is in Japan on loan to a football club, exchanged Valentine's Day greetings with May, the actress revealed.
However, the message he posted on social media to mark Valentine’s Day sounded plaintive, according to netizens, which suggested he wasn't having as much fun.
"Sometimes it's hard to understand, that some people can stay in your heart...but not in your life," he wrote in English. The two have yet to meet since May declared last month they were breaking up.
No comments:
Post a Comment