Meta Admits to Running False Ad Claiming Dana Perino is Leaving Fox News: A Deep Dive into the Scam and Its Fallout

On May 19, 2024, Meta (formerly Facebook) found itself at the center of a controversy when it approved a misleading and false ad that claimed Dana Perino, the well-known Fox News personality and former White House Press Secretary, was leaving The Five. The ad, which ran across both Facebook and Instagram, read, “It’s Official: We Say Farewell To Dana Perino,” and included an additional version that stated, “A sad end to a brilliant career.”

These ads directed viewers to an article that presented a fabricated narrative involving Perino, Fox News, and a purported conflict with Sean Hannity. The story made several unsubstantiated claims, including a supposed lawsuit with Fox News and tensions with Hannity, based on Perino’s new business venture selling CBD gummies. However, none of this was true. The entire campaign was a scam designed to mislead viewers and promote a fraudulent product.

The False Story: Perino’s Departure and CBD Gummies

The ad led to a story published on freshdailydrive.com, which was accessed through a redirect via falcondownholesolutions.com. The headline of the article read, “Dana Perino Leaves ‘The Five’ and Sparks Major Lawsuit Against Fox: Her Response on Air.” The narrative within the article painted a dramatic, yet false, picture of Perino announcing her departure from The Five due to a supposed confrontation with Hannity over her new CBD product, Fortin CBD Gummies.

The article claimed that Perino’s new product had created tension with Hannity, resulting in a lawsuit from the conservative host. It suggested that Hannity was angry that Perino’s venture could potentially drive away sponsors from his show and Fox News. Perino, according to the article, was presented as defending her product by stating that it was her way of “giving back” and helping those who wanted an alternative to traditional medications. The article also falsely claimed that Hannity was demanding her termination from the network, as well as an apology from her.

Adding to the absurdity, the article mentioned that Jesse Watters, another Fox News personality, had supposedly thrown his support behind Perino’s new CBD line. The article, which mirrored the format of an authentic news piece, was designed to appear as though it were from a credible source, much like content from Fox News itself.

Debunking the Lies: What Really Happened

In reality, Dana Perino was not leaving The Five, and there were no tensions between her and Sean Hannity over CBD products or any business-related ventures. The claims about Perino’s product, Fortin CBD Gummies, were completely fabricated. Perino had no involvement in the creation or promotion of CBD products, and any suggestion of a legal dispute or business venture that caused friction with her colleagues at Fox News is false.

In fact, CBD products, particularly those marketed as “miracle cures” for serious medical conditions like dementia, have long been debunked by reputable medical organizations. The British Alzheimer’s Society, for example, has stated clearly that there is no scientific evidence to support claims that cannabis or CBD products can reverse or prevent dementia, making the claims in the article all the more outrageous.

The Scam’s Strategy: How It Fooled Viewers

The scam was cleverly designed to mislead viewers by presenting false information in the format of a news article, complete with clickbait headlines and references to well-known personalities like Dana Perino and Sean Hannity. These deceptive ads were distributed through social media platforms, using Meta’s ad system to reach millions of users. The goal of the scam was not only to promote false stories but also to push a fraudulent product—Fortin CBD Gummies—that claimed to offer health benefits without any proven scientific backing.

The use of familiar names and brands in the article helped make the scam appear legitimate, which is a common tactic used by scammers to gain trust and manipulate consumers. By associating well-known personalities with the fake product, the scammers hoped to leverage their popularity to encourage people to click on the link and ultimately purchase the product.

Unfortunately, this type of misleading advertising has become increasingly prevalent on social media, with scammers using it to exploit people’s trust in established brands and media figures. It’s a reminder that not everything shared online is truthful, and viewers must remain vigilant about where they get their information.

Meta’s Role and Accountability

The fact that Meta allowed these ads to run on its platform has raised significant concerns about the company’s role in policing misleading content. While the company has made efforts to crack down on false information in recent years, this incident serves as a reminder of the challenges it faces in preventing the spread of fake news and deceptive advertising on its platforms.

Meta has since removed the false ads after they were flagged, but questions remain about the effectiveness of its systems for identifying and stopping such scams before they reach millions of users. The incident highlights the importance of continued scrutiny on social media platforms and the need for stronger regulations to protect users from misleading and harmful content.

The Bigger Picture: Scams in the Health and Wellness Industry

This particular scam targeting Dana Perino also underscores a broader issue within the health and wellness industry—namely, the prevalence of products marketed as miracle cures. These products, often sold online through deceptive ads, claim to address everything from weight loss to mental health issues without scientific proof. The rise of such scams has been facilitated by the anonymity of the internet, where misleading ads can be easily circulated without proper oversight.

While some individuals may benefit from products like CBD for certain conditions, the unregulated nature of the market means that many consumers are left vulnerable to products that promise results that are too good to be true. The consequences of falling for such scams can range from financial loss to serious health risks, particularly if consumers turn to these unproven alternatives instead of seeking proper medical treatment.

The Aftermath: A Lesson in Media Literacy and Consumer Awareness

The fallout from the false ad campaign involving Dana Perino and Rob Marciano is a cautionary tale about the power of social media and the need for better consumer awareness. The story has sparked discussions on media literacy and the responsibility of both individuals and platforms to ensure that the information they consume and share is legitimate. For Perino, the scam tarnished her reputation, despite the fact that she had no involvement in the fraudulent activities.

For Fox News, the incident serves as a reminder of the need to protect its talent from being exploited by scammers and to address the risks posed by misleading ads in the digital age. For the public, it’s a lesson in the importance of questioning the credibility of the sources they encounter online, especially when it involves health-related products.

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale About Trust and Deception

In the end, the false and scammy ads surrounding Dana Perino’s alleged departure from The Five and her supposed involvement with CBD products serve as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in the digital age. While the ad may have momentarily fooled some, it was quickly debunked, but it still stands as a warning about the dangers of trusting unverified online content.

As social media continues to play an integral role in shaping public opinion and driving consumer behavior, the responsibility lies with both platforms and users to ensure that information is accurate, trustworthy, and not designed to manipulate or deceive. In this instance, Dana Perino’s credibility was unfairly targeted, but the lessons learned here will hopefully lead to better protections for both media personalities and consumers in the future.