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| Reality TV stars auditioned to 'promote' poison diet drink on Instagram | Reality TV stars auditioned to 'promote' poison diet drink on Instagram |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| When scrolling through Instagram, you've probably seen celebrities advertising loads of products like make-up and weight loss drinks. | When scrolling through Instagram, you've probably seen celebrities advertising loads of products like make-up and weight loss drinks. |
| But do the influencers try the product and check the ingredients they're promoting to their followers? | But do the influencers try the product and check the ingredients they're promoting to their followers? |
| Not always, according to a BBC investigation. | Not always, according to a BBC investigation. |
| Three big name Instagram influencers - Lauren Goodger, Mike Hassini and Zara Holland - have been caught auditioning to promote a poisonous cyanide drink. | Three big name Instagram influencers - Lauren Goodger, Mike Hassini and Zara Holland - have been caught auditioning to promote a poisonous cyanide drink. |
| The reality TV stars were secretly filmed being asked to promote a fake diet drink in the BBC Three series Blindboy Undestroys the World, despite it not being ready for production. | The reality TV stars were secretly filmed being asked to promote a fake diet drink in the BBC Three series Blindboy Undestroys the World, despite it not being ready for production. |
| The made-up drink - called Cyanora - included the ingredient hydrogen cyanide, which is a chemical that can kill you. | The made-up drink - called Cyanora - included the ingredient hydrogen cyanide, which is a chemical that can kill you. |
| The toxic substance was used during the second world war by Nazi Germany in gas chambers. | The toxic substance was used during the second world war by Nazi Germany in gas chambers. |
| Lauren, Mike and Zara - who collectively have more than 1.3m Instagram followers - were informed the product wasn't being launched for a few months. | |
| They were told they would not be able to drink it until it was. | They were told they would not be able to drink it until it was. |
| Zara's agent did point out she couldn't do that without trying it first. | Zara's agent did point out she couldn't do that without trying it first. |
| We see them film video clips promoting the drink, mentioning the ingredient "hydrogen cyanide". | We see them film video clips promoting the drink, mentioning the ingredient "hydrogen cyanide". |
| The undercover filming was part of an investigation by the show into whether celebrities actually use the products they're paid to promote on social media. | The undercover filming was part of an investigation by the show into whether celebrities actually use the products they're paid to promote on social media. |
| According to the advertising watchdog, the brand and the celebrity promoting a product are "responsible for the claims that are made in the advert". | According to the advertising watchdog, the brand and the celebrity promoting a product are "responsible for the claims that are made in the advert". |
| But the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) told Radio 1 Newsbeat: "The issue of whether a celebrity who is promoting a product has actually tried/used it themselves is not something we've had cause to investigate." | But the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) told Radio 1 Newsbeat: "The issue of whether a celebrity who is promoting a product has actually tried/used it themselves is not something we've had cause to investigate." |
| Love Island star Zara Holland said she would never "deliberately mislead" her followers. | Love Island star Zara Holland said she would never "deliberately mislead" her followers. |
| In response to the investigation, she said: "My agent did state that I would not promote a product without trying it first, and we needed to be provided with more details. | In response to the investigation, she said: "My agent did state that I would not promote a product without trying it first, and we needed to be provided with more details. |
| "I would never deliberately mislead my followers or promote a product that was dangerous." | "I would never deliberately mislead my followers or promote a product that was dangerous." |
| Lauren Goodger's former agent replied: "Our client would not endorse the promotion of products that contained harmful or suspect ingredients, or without knowing the contents. | Lauren Goodger's former agent replied: "Our client would not endorse the promotion of products that contained harmful or suspect ingredients, or without knowing the contents. |
| "Our client was told the product was in production." | "Our client was told the product was in production." |
| The ex-TOWIE star is also seen talking about a product she promoted called Skinny Coffee - which she previously said helped her lose two stone. | The ex-TOWIE star is also seen talking about a product she promoted called Skinny Coffee - which she previously said helped her lose two stone. |
| During filming, she says: "I've not tried skinny coffee." | During filming, she says: "I've not tried skinny coffee." |
| The ASA has previously ruled that Lauren Goodger was involved in making misleading claims for other weight loss products. | The ASA has previously ruled that Lauren Goodger was involved in making misleading claims for other weight loss products. |
| A statement by Lauren - posted on her talent agency's Instagram story - says she agreed to promote the drink without trying it "in the heat of the moment". | A statement by Lauren - posted on her talent agency's Instagram story - says she agreed to promote the drink without trying it "in the heat of the moment". |
| It read: "This script was given to me at that precise moment. No deals were signed and it was an audition. They asked me would I promote the drink without using it. | It read: "This script was given to me at that precise moment. No deals were signed and it was an audition. They asked me would I promote the drink without using it. |
| "In the heat of the moment I said yes and also said I hadn't tried Skinny Coffee in the hope of getting the job. | "In the heat of the moment I said yes and also said I hadn't tried Skinny Coffee in the hope of getting the job. |
| "Of course I would never promote anything that contains poison and proper checks would have been made before any promotion." | "Of course I would never promote anything that contains poison and proper checks would have been made before any promotion." |
| She also denied saying she'd lost two stone through the coffee. | She also denied saying she'd lost two stone through the coffee. |
| Lauren's fellow Towie star Mike Hassini has not yet responded to the BBC's request for comment. | Lauren's fellow Towie star Mike Hassini has not yet responded to the BBC's request for comment. |
| In a statement to Radio 1 Newsbeat, the ASA said: "Our primary concern is whether the claims a celebrity (or anyone else) makes about a product in an ad, which can include social media posts, are not misleading and are socially responsible. | In a statement to Radio 1 Newsbeat, the ASA said: "Our primary concern is whether the claims a celebrity (or anyone else) makes about a product in an ad, which can include social media posts, are not misleading and are socially responsible. |
| "When considering claims around weight loss products, our investigations tend to focus on whether the advertiser is making any unauthorised health claims or promoting unsafe dietary practices. | "When considering claims around weight loss products, our investigations tend to focus on whether the advertiser is making any unauthorised health claims or promoting unsafe dietary practices. |
| "If a celebrity claimed that using a dietary product had helped them lose weight when, in fact, they had never used the product that could potentially be a problem under our rules. Though we'd have to carefully assess the context in which the claims appeared." | "If a celebrity claimed that using a dietary product had helped them lose weight when, in fact, they had never used the product that could potentially be a problem under our rules. Though we'd have to carefully assess the context in which the claims appeared." |
| BBC Three's series Blindboy Undestroys the World is available on iPlayer now. | BBC Three's series Blindboy Undestroys the World is available on iPlayer now. |
| Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |