Have other celebrities publicly endorsed erectile dysfunction drugs and how common is it?

1. What people are claiming — real endorsements versus fake promotions

The core claim splits into two separate assertions: that celebrities have publicly endorsed ED drugs, and that such endorsements are common. Documented, paid celebrity endorsements do exist, exemplified by former Senator Bob Dole’s 1998–1999 role promoting Viagra awareness in television spots, showing that mainstream pharmaceutical marketing has used public figures to destigmatize and market ED treatments ^{[1] [4]}. By contrast, recent internet ads featuring beamed-in celebrity testimonials for supplements are often deepfakes or unauthorized uses of celebrity images and voices; these are not genuine endorsements and are being used to sell unregulated products that may lack evidence ^{[2] [3]}. The original statement conflates these very different phenomena, so the truth depends on whether one means sanctioned pharmaceutical endorsements or fraudulent imitation ads.

2. Evidence that genuine celebrity endorsements have precedent and purpose

Historical examples demonstrate that legitimate celebrity involvement in marketing ED treatments is established and can serve public-health messaging as well as commercial aims. Bob Dole’s paid participation in early Viagra awareness campaigns marked one of the first high-profile partnerships between a public figure and an ED medication maker, illustrating how celebrity credibility can be used to normalize discussion of sexual health and increase treatment uptake ^[1]. Commentators and historians also trace the tactic of using notable figures to sell therapeutic claims back centuries, indicating the marketing logic—and ethical debates—are long-standing ^[4]. These documented endorsements were conducted within regulated advertising frameworks, differentiating them from the online supplement marketplace.

3. Evidence that fake celebrity endorsements are proliferating online

Multiple investigative reports document a substantial wave of deepfake YouTube ads using likenesses of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Tyson, Terry Crews, and others to promote ED supplements. These videos employ AI-generated voices and lip-syncing, with at least several hundred variations running as ads and directing viewers to products like “Prolong Power.” The endorsements in those ads are not authentic; they are fabricated testimonials designed to exploit celebrity cachet and evade platform moderation, raising fraud and misinformation concerns ^{[2] [3]}. The presence of around 300 ad variants and recurring removal actions by platforms shows scale and persistence of this illicit practice.

4. How common are each type and what the difference in scale suggests

Measured against the advertising ecosystem, legitimate, disclosed celebrity endorsements of FDA-approved ED drugs are relatively rare but high-profile, historically notable events like Dole’s campaign. They occur within pharmaceutical marketing strategies and regulatory scrutiny ^[1]. By contrast, unauthorized deepfake endorsements have become prolific online, particularly in 2024–2025 reporting, with hundreds of deceptive ad variations observed on streaming platforms; these illicit ads may outnumber genuine celebrity pharma campaigns in sheer frequency because of low production costs and automated distribution ^{[2] [3]}. Therefore, while genuine celebrity endorsements are uncommon but visible, fake celebrity promotions have become alarmingly common in digital advertising.

5. Legal, ethical and consumer-safety angles that are often left out

The two phenomena raise different concerns: legitimate endorsements prompt ethical debate about influence, transparency, and medicalization, as critics warn about blurring awareness and advertising, and regulators monitor claims in drug advertising ^{[1] [4]}. Deepfake ads raise criminal and platform-moderation issues: unauthorized use of likeness, deception about efficacy, and sale of unproven supplements that may mislead consumers and cause harm. Lawsuits and takedowns—such as actions celebrities have pursued when images are misused—illustrate legal stakes, while platform responses show ongoing gaps in detection and enforcement ^{[5] [3]}. Consumers face distinct risks depending on whether an endorsement is authentic and regulated or synthetic and unregulated.

6. Bottom line: asking the right question changes the answer

If the question is whether celebrities have publicly endorsed ED drugs the answer is yes, but those instances are relatively few and often regulated, with prominent historical examples like Bob Dole’s marketed collaborations ^[1]. If the question is whether celebrity images and voices are frequently used to sell ED-related products online, the answer is also yes—but in that case the endorsements are frequently fake deepfakes or unauthorized uses proliferating on platforms like YouTube, representing a different problem: misinformation, fraud, and consumer risk ^{[2] [3]}. Both facts are established in the public record and should guide consumers to verify endorsements, check product claims, and expect platforms and regulators to address unauthorized celebrity deepfakes.