This ad wears thin: Don’t fall for a deepfake of Kelly Clarkson hawking diet pills

Singers Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw have previously been the targets of false advertising that uses their celebrity to promote supposed weight loss products. Now a fellow star, Kelly Clarkson, has come in diet scammers’ crosshairs with a deepfake video that puts words in her mouth. 

"Hello, this is Kelly Clarkson, and I want to share something incredible with you," singer Kelly Clarkson appears to say in the video shared Oct. 25 on Facebook. "As you know, I’ve always strived to stay fit and take care of my health. Recently, I’ve started using a product from a renowned pharmaceutical company and I’ve been absolutely amazed by the results. I recently discussed this product and my transformation journey in detail during my appearance on the ‘Today Show.’ Simply click the link below this video to learn more about the product." 

The Facebook post sharing this video — and the link — were flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

This video was altered. The original, shared June 23 by Clarkson on Instagram, shows the singer promoting her new album, "Chemistry."

She doesn’t mention her weight loss product or a "renowned pharmaceutical industry."

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stated on October 26, 2024 in a Threads post

Four Florida counties had “zero results” Oct. 26, and “something underhanded might be happening.”

Clicking the link in the post led to a page designed to look like a Facebook page and a post from Clarkson’s Facebook account. In reality, the url — conlineteam.com — signals that this isn’t a Facebook page. The supposed Oct. 31 post from Clarkson’s account is fabricated and doesn’t appear on her account.

Clarkson’s publicist further told The Associated Press that Clarkson isn’t a spokesperson for any weight loss products or programs.

We rate claims this video is authentic False.