Were Oprah's images or quotes used without her permission in Lipo Max ads?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
Multiple consumer reports and a Better Business Bureau alert say LipoMax marketing used fake videos that appeared to show Oprah Winfrey endorsing the product, and Oprah herself warned people her name was being used without permission (BBB reports and consumer complaints; deep‑fake video warnings) [1][2]. Over 170 consumer reports to BBB Scam Tracker describe deep‑fake celebrity endorsements tied to LipoMax, and individual complainants say they saw ads featuring Oprah and purchased product believing she endorsed it [1][3].
1. What the records show: repeated complaints of fake Oprah endorsements
The BBB collected more than 170 reports in a two‑month span describing videos that appeared to show celebrities — notably Oprah Winfrey — endorsing LipoMax and the so‑called “pink salt trick” to sell the supplement; consumers told BBB they believed the videos and bought product as a result [1]. Separate individual Scam Tracker reports describe seeing a video “with Oprah” and later being unable to obtain refunds or meaningful customer service [3][4].
2. Deep‑fake concern is central to the BBB warning
The BBB’s public alert explicitly links LipoMax marketing to “deep‑fake videos” used to promote the supplement and states that consumers reported videos of celebrities and alleged physicians endorsing the product — language that signals manipulation of images or audio rather than authorized use [1]. That alert is the most formal source in the dataset connecting the ads to synthetic or unauthorized media [1].
3. Oprah’s response and media reporting
Local reporting and consumer interviews note that Oprah publicly warned people her name was being used in such weight‑loss product pitches and that consumers realized the endorsement was not genuine only after complaining [2]. KSL’s coverage cites Oprah “taking to social media” to warn people that “her name is being used to pitch weight loss products,” which supports the claim that she disavowed the ads [2].
4. Consumer experiences and financial harm documented
Multiple complainants reported buying multi‑bottle packages costing hundreds of dollars after seeing the Oprah‑style videos, then encountering unresponsive customer service and disputed refund practices; one report lists multiple purchases and failed refund attempts, and another details being charged and later unable to cancel [3][4]. The BBB article emphasizes the volume of these consumer complaints as evidence of a broader scam pattern [1].
5. Where the public record is explicit — and where it’s silent
Available sources explicitly say videos were “deep‑fake” and that Oprah’s image/name were used without her permission according to her own warning and consumer reports [1][2]. The sources do not provide an official legal filing or corporate acknowledgement from LipoMax admitting unauthorized use, and they do not include direct forensic analysis of the videos demonstrating manipulation; those details are not found in current reporting [1][2].
6. Alternative explanations and why they matter
Some buyer commentary treated the videos as “real” until they learned otherwise, indicating the ads were convincing [5]. That raises two possibilities consistent with the record: actors or doctored footage were used to simulate Oprah’s endorsement, or material was edited in a way that misleadingly implied her support. The BBB frames the issue as deep‑fake misuse rather than a simple unauthorized photo‑license, which suggests sophisticated synthetic media tactics [1].
7. Practical implications for consumers and investigators
Consumers who relied on those videos reported monetary loss and difficulty obtaining refunds, providing tangible consumer‑protection consequences that motivated the BBB warning [3][1]. For investigators, the record calls for forensic review of the videos, platform takedowns of fraudulent ads, and potential legal action — none of which are documented in the sources provided here [1][2].
8. Bottom line
Available reporting shows LipoMax ads circulated videos that many consumers and the BBB identified as deep‑fakes using Oprah’s likeness without authorization, and Oprah publicly warned people her name was being misused [1][2]. The sources do not include a company admission, court filings, or a forensic report in this dataset, so confirmatory legal or technical evidence is not found in current reporting [1][2].