A day ago
After the post surfaced on the internet, many users criticised Ronaldo for lacking transparency in brand endorsement.
Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has courted controversy for promoting a Herbalife product on social media. Ronaldo recently dropped a post on X (formerly Twitter) where he claimed that the brand’s Formula 1 meal replacement shake could be a perfect choice for breakfast. Considering his fitness at the age of 39, it’s fair to assume that Ronaldo follows a healthy diet. But is the Herbalife product part of his breakfast routine? This question emerged as there was no “advertisement" tag in Ronaldo’s post.
A good way to start the day? A healthy breakfast. Herbalife Formula 1 delivers a balanced mix of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals," the former Real Madrid man wrote in the caption. His post also featured two pictures where Ronaldo could be seen preparing the Herbalife shake.
After the post surfaced on the internet, many users criticised Ronaldo for lacking transparency in brand endorsement. He didn’t label the Herbalife post as a paid advertisement, which is mandatory in these cases as per the social media regulations and guidelines.
A community note under his post now reads, “Herbalife is a multilevel marketing corporation, Ronaldo is being paid for the promotional post, he should have marked the post as an ad."
Dr. Cyriac Abby Phillips, an Indian hepatologist and social media influencer, lashed out at Ronaldo for promoting a product that can lead to concerning health issues.
Phillips, who identifies himself as “The Liver Doc" on X, put forward some studies where Herbalife shakes were claimed to have many side effects.
“A good way to start the day? A healthy breakfast. No doubt. But Herbalife has no role in it. Herbalife is a multilevel marketing pyramid scheme company which manufactures low-quality mixed protein made from peas and soy and includes other dangerous botanicals, all the while charging consumers like they’re selling Swarovski diamonds," he shared in a post.
Phillips further insisted that Ronaldo’s breakfast “definitely does not involve Herbalife products." “Even the people you place high on a high pedestal are sometimes deprived of ethics and morality when it comes to healthcare and health literacy when money talks," he added.
Many fans revealed their discontent in the comment section of Ronaldo’s post. While some labelled the company as a “scam," others suggested that people should keep themselves away from Herbalife products. According to The Liver Doc, these shakes are associated with the highest documented liver injury and liver failure cases among all protein supplements available in the world.
Total Comments: 0