Ads making the rounds on Facebook claim hosts of the popular ABC reality TV show “Shark Tank” and actor Kevin Costner are endorsing products aimed at treating tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a common problem that causes people to experience ringing or other noises in one or both of their ears. It’s especially prevalent in older adults and is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system, the Mayo Clinic explains.
Many of the Facebook ads feature a photo of “Shark Tank” host and investor Kevin O’Leary, and include the show’s logo. Some of the ads also link out to websites advertising CBD gummies that claim to treat tinnitus.
Other ads shared on social media claim actor Kevin Costner endorses an “Echo Ease nasal inhaler” to treat tinnitus. Some of the ads even include videos that appear to show Costner guaranteeing that people will be cured of tinnitus if they use the product.
These ads led several VERIFY readers to reach out through our website to ask if “Shark Tank” hosts and other celebrities are endorsing these types of products to treat tinnitus.
THE QUESTION
Are the “Shark Tank” hosts and actor Kevin Costner endorsing CBD gummies and nasal inhalers to treat tinnitus?
THE SOURCES
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
- “Shark Tank” investors’ October 2023 interview on “The View”
- TikTok video shared by “Shark Tank” investor Lori Greiner
- Representative for Kevin Costner
- ABC website’s list of products that have appeared on “Shark Tank”
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Amy Nofziger, director of victim support for AARP’s Fraud Watch Network
THE ANSWER
No, the “Shark Tank” hosts and actor Kevin Costner are not endorsing CBD gummies and nasal inhalers to treat tinnitus.
WHAT WE FOUND
The hosts of “Shark Tank,” including Kevin O’Leary, and actor Kevin Costner have denied selling or endorsing CBD gummies or nasal spray aimed at treating tinnitus.
There’s no evidence that using CBD gummies or nasal spray will alleviate tinnitus symptoms, either. According to the federal government’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), “there are no medications specifically for treating tinnitus.”
“While certain vitamins, herbal extracts, and dietary supplements are commonly advertised as cures for the condition, none of these has been proven to be effective,” the NIDCD says.
Instead, the products advertised online appear to be a version of a common scam that uses “miracle” health products to take your credit card information and potentially surprise you with unwanted charges. VERIFY has more information about how this type of scam works here.
Investors on the ABC show “Shark Tank” have repeatedly said they do not endorse any CBD gummies. In response to our questions about the nasal inhaler for tinnitus, a representative for Costner also told VERIFY the actor “is not and has never been associated with this company.”
During an interview with “The View” in October 2023, “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban said, “The Sharks have never done an ad for gummies or CBD.”
“Shark Tank” investor Lori Greiner shared a clip from that same interview on her TikTok account in October, with a caption that says, “The Sharks do NOT endorse any #Keto #CBD or #WeightLoss products.”
The ABC website also has a list of products that have appeared on “Shark Tank” as of April 19, 2024. That list does not include any of the CBD gummy products that are mentioned in online articles attached to Facebook ads about “Shark Tank” endorsements.
Both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and AARP’s Fraud Watch Network also warn against trusting celebrity endorsements for these types of products.
Amy Nofziger, director of victim support for AARP’s Fraud Watch Network, said criminals use fake celebrity endorsements, most of which are digitally altered, “to try and add credibility to their bogus product they are pitching.”
“Most celebrities will never advertise for a weight loss supplement or use their brand to pitch gummies. This is most certainly a red flag,” Nofziger added.
According to Nofziger, the Fraud Watch Network’s helpline has received complaints from hundreds of consumers about CBD gummies. The complaints “often indicate the victim was looking for a treatment for a certain ailment,” such as tinnitus, she said.
“Most of the complaints stem from the continued unauthorized charges and shipments of the product to consumers when they had tried to cancel numerous times. Additionally, many people complain that their product didn’t work and some even said they had stomach aches and other side effects from them,” she said.
Nofziger recommends researching unfamiliar products or brands online, regardless of who allegedly endorses them. You can search for the product or company’s name alongside words like “scam”, “problems” or “complaints” to see what other people are saying about it.
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