Cristiano Ronaldo recently became the center of social media controversy after promoting Herbalife's Formula 1 meal replacement shake without clearly disclosing it as an advertisement. The Portuguese football star posted on X (formerly Twitter), describing the shake as a "balanced mix of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals" suitable for a healthy breakfast, using hashtags like #Herbalife and #HealthyBreakfast.
While many fans applauded Ronaldo's endorsement, others criticized the lack of transparency, with some questioning the health benefits of meal replacement products like Herbalife's shake. The absence of an explicit ad disclosure led to a community note attached to his post, reigniting debates about celebrity endorsements' ethics and health implications. The incident highlights growing scrutiny on social media influencers regarding transparent advertising practices.
Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, widely known as "The Liver Doc," has recently aimed at football icon Cristiano Ronaldo for endorsing Herbalife's Formula 1 meal replacement shake. Ronaldo's post, featuring images of him with the product, quickly gained attention and mixed reactions online.
Dr. Philips, known for his outspoken critiques of celebrity endorsements and health claims, has previously called out many public figures. He quickly challenged Ronaldo's promotion of the breakfast mix, emphasizing the need for greater caution with health-related endorsements. The post soon sparked a wave of trolling and a broader discussion on the responsibility of celebrities when advertising health products. And also publicly criticized the football star's promotion of the product. He labeled Herbalife's Formula 1 shake as "low-quality protein," pointing out that "there are far better protein supplements in the market that consumers can spend money on, definitely not Herbalife".
Dr. Philips speculated that Ronaldo's breakfast likely doesn't include Herbalife products, implying that the endorsements were purely commercial. His comment then fueled discussions on social media about the quality of health products endorsed by celebrities and the ethics of such promotions. Many social media users, criticized him for influencing millions without proper transparency.
In addition to his critique of Ronaldo’s Herbalife endorsement, The Rehab Doc (Dr. Deepak J), has raised his views on the false claims of the dietary product and also has discussed its potential side effects on this social media handle.
This wave of reactions underscores growing skepticism toward celebrity endorsements of health products, with critics questioning whether public figures genuinely use the products they promote or simply leverage their influence for lucrative sponsorship deals.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Josna Lewis/MSM)