According to a new report from the Associated Press, Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mehmet Oz made millions of dollars as a snake oil salesman promoting dubious supplements and working with companies that have been “investigated by federal authorities” and “accused of operating like a pyramid scheme.”
On his TV show, in his magazine, and at conferences, Oz pushed brands he secretly had a financial stake in. One company paid the celebrity doctor, “at least $50 million” to hawk specific products and feature them “in regular segments that often blurred the line between medical advice and advertising.”
Oz also partnered with Vemma Nutrition, a multi-level marketing company that was later sued by the FTC, accused of being an illegal pyramid scheme, and forced to pay “$2.2 million to people who lost money.” Over the course of their business relationship, Oz spoke at Vemma’s annual conference, joined marketing calls “with the people who signed up to sell the products,” and promoted the brand on “his show, social media and elsewhere.” In return, Vemma “gave more than $1 million to HealthCorps” — Oz’s nonprofit.
Amazingly, even while campaigning for Senate, Oz has kept his day job promoting pyramid schemes. Shortly after winning the PA primary, the Republican was in Florida delivering “the keynote remarks at a meeting for a lobbying group that supports multi-level marketing — a haven for pyramid schemes.
“Mehmet Oz is a snake oil salesman and fraudster willing to say and do anything to advance his own personal agenda,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Aidan Johnson. “Before running for office, Oz spent his career pushing pyramid schemes, taking millions from Big Pharma, and even investing in the companies he blames for skyrocketing insulin costs. Pennsylvanians have no interest in electing an out-of-touch celebrity doctor who is trying to sell them a lie.”
Read the full report here.
Published: Oct 20, 2022 | Last Modified: Oct 25, 2022