In her latest Goop.com newsletter, Gwyneth Paltrow praised the new La Momunia Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco — and it may have gotten her in hot water!
Daily Finance reports that Gwyn, who likely stayed in the hotel for free, broke the new Federal Trade Commission rules when she wrote: “I stayed at the revamped historic La Mamounia Hotel, located in the heart of the imperial city. The Jacques Garcia designed interiors are splendid to say the least, and the hotel’s gardens are out of this world, almost from a fairy tale. The food and drinks here are elegant and delicious and with all the choices … I couldn’t resist a daily Hammam treatment at the hotel’s spa. Ridiculously lavish!”
But, according to the FTC, “both advertisers and endorsers may be liable … for failure to disclose material connections between the advertiser and endorsers.” That includes that spa treatment!
It also says, “The revised Guides also make it clear that celebrities have a duty to disclose their relationships with advertisers when making endorsements outside the context of traditional ads, such as on talk shows or in social media.” Kim Kardashian, we’re talking to you!
Is her Goop.com newsletter an endorsement? Or is it just a personal anecdote? And should Gwynnie be fined up to $11,000?
AsiaA
Posted at 6:22 PM on December 21, 2009
Hmmm…I don’t feel like celebs should have to disclose. They never did before, and you usually assumed they got the hook up. The government is fuxing up everything. They can’t even receive free goods because they have to report it on taxes.
I don’t think beauty bloggers should have to disclose either.
I don’t get wrapped into a person suggesting or endorsing a product unless it just sounds like something that fits my usual criteria for purchasing.
Like, I love Beyonce’s hair. But I don’t go out and buy L’Oreal because she’s in the commercials. I know she doesn’t even use that mess, and she wears Lace fronts most of the time the public sees her. So that’s my fault if I go out and buy the product and it makes my hair nappy because it’s not formulated for African American hair.