Ashley James expressed deep distress upon discovering that her likeness was being exploited in a fraudulent weight loss scheme. The 38-year-old former Made In Chelsea personality, recognized for her appearances on This Morning, was shocked to find out that her image was falsely used to promote a program claiming she shed nearly two stone in just one month.
In a manipulated video, an AI-generated version of Ashley was depicted conversing with Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on the This Morning set. Ashley clarified that she would never support such a product and emphasized the falsehood of the campaign.
During a recent episode of the ITV magazine show, Ashley shared her dismay, stating that the misuse of her image and voice to promote a non-existent weight loss treatment was disheartening. She reiterated her stance against endorsing any weight loss products and expressed concern for viewers who might fall victim to the deceptive marketing.
Ashley’s experience is not unique, as other celebrities have also been targeted in similar scams. Businesswoman Sara Davies, known for her role on Dragon’s Den and Time is Money, cautioned her social media followers against falling for such fraudulent schemes after her image was misused to endorse fake slimming products.
Sue Cleaver, a Coronation Street actress, also spoke out about the distress caused by people spending money believing she had endorsed a deceitful weight loss product. She emphasized the lack of safeguards against such scams and expressed her frustration at the misuse of her identity for fraudulent purposes.
The incidents involving Ashley, Sara, and Sue highlight the growing issue of celebrities’ images being exploited in false advertising schemes, underscoring the need for greater vigilance and consumer awareness.