(WWJ) In a deal with authorities, a Michigan business owner and reality TV personality must retract an implication that a product may protect users from the coronavirus.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Wednesday that her office has entered into an "assurance of voluntary compliance," or AVC, with Skin Envy, LLC, after the company's owner, allegedly made misleading claims about a product’s ability to prevent COVID-19.
In May, the AG sent a notice of intended action (NIA) to Skin Envy owner Stephanie Davison.
Davison, who operates non-surgical weight-loss centers in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, also appeared on the TLC reality show "90 Day Fiancé."
Nessel's office said it received a complaint after Davison appeared on a local West Michigan lifestyle show to promote Skin Envy’s ipamorelin/sermorelin injections.
During the program, Davison suggested the injections prevent COVID-19, stating she never became ill with COVID and that “I have had people tell me in the medical field that it is probably due to” the injections. She encouraged people to purchase the injections “if you’re scared” of getting COVID-19, adding there aren’t “any studies.” Her website also claimed sermorelin “strengthens the immune system” ... while neglecting to mention potential side effects, Nessel said.
The AVC, signed last week by Davison, agrees to the following:
- Public retraction on Davison’s Instagram account for 30 days;
- Add language to the Skin Envy website warning customers of potential injection side effects;
- Payment of $4,000 toward AG's investigation costs.
Nessel said, in a statement: “I am pleased to see Ms. Davison take responsibility in this matter, and it is my hope it can serve as a reminder that my office takes misleading and false claims related to consumer products very seriously."
Davis, meanwhile, continues assert that she did nothing wrong.
Quoting her attorney, Davis in an Instagram post contends that the AVC does not constitute an admission of any wrongdoing. She added, "This has been the worst thing that I’ve ever endured."
Davis has 158,000 followers on Instagram.
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