marlo marketing. fully integrated marketing, public relations, and creative services agency based in Boston, Massachusetts and New York City

From influencer engagement for luxury hotels to website design for assisted living communities to public relations for iconic beer brands, we cover a lot of ground.

In industry lingo, we’re considered a full-service integrated consumer marketing agency.

In our lingo? We just get sh*t done.

The Dark Side of Celebrity Endorsement

The Dark Side of Celebrity Endorsement

Considering recent news that Jessica Simpson’s clothing and accessories empire is expected to break the $1 billion sales mark in early 2011, it’s safe to say that celebrity endorsement has reached a zenith. Whether it’s the sisters Kardashian shilling weight loss pills or Beyonce proclaiming the miserable, yet effective Master Cleanse, just about anything with a famous name attached to it is going to sell. While that’s great for the celebs who’re cut a nice check from the companies they’re endorsing, it’s not so great for the consumer, especially the ones taking health tips from A-listers and D-listers alike.

According to Sense About Science (SAS), “an independent charitable trust promoting good science and evidence in public debates,” pretty much every celebrity-endorsed health claim is bullshit.

The most horrendous endorsers include:

  • Olivia Newton-John, who told a newspaper that she took extra digestive enzymes to boost her immune system. Too bad your body already produces all the enzymes it needs, according to SAS.
  • Girls Aloud pop star Sarah Harding, who told a British magazine that she sprinkled her food with charcoal that would absorb damaging chemicals in the body once ingested. SAS says the body doesn’t need charcoal to absorb bad chemicals; it does it naturally.
  • Cage fighter Alex Reid touted the benefits of unprotected sex and “sperm reabsorbing” (use your imagination) to gear up for a fight. SAS’s take: Not only can sperm not be reabsorbed, it actually has very little nutritional value.

Not every celeb is a dope, though. SAS gives props to Jennifer Aniston, who responded to reports that claimed she was on a baby food diet with the quip, “Sorry, but the last time I had baby food, I believe I was one. I’ve been on solids for about 40 years now.”

Posted by Amelia

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