Lingerie company Savage X Fenty, a joint venture between Rihanna Robyn Fenty and Segunda, California-based TechStyle Fashion Group has been accused of using deceptive advertising policies by consumer advocacy organization Truth in Advertising.
A press release from the non-profit states, “[Truth in Advertising]’s investigation found that the company is violating the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) and FTC law by deceptively promoting discounts and product prices that are only available to Xtra VIP members who are bound to the terms of the membership.”
The organization also accused the online lingerie retailers of deceptively enrolling consumers into the $50 VIP monthly subscription upon check out and subsequently making it challenging to discontinue the charge.
As well, it identified 21 different social media influencers, who failed to disclose their post as an ad. The law dictates influencers must disclose their posts as ads when they are either paid by the brand or are on the receiving end of free product. The rule is widely ignore and not just by Fenty X Savage influencers.
On Monday (February 10, 2020) Truth in Advertising filed complaints with the FTC as well as district attorneys in Santa Cruz, California. According to the organization, the company has been previously investigated and was fined $1.8 million for using similar practices through activewear label Fabletics, which is co-owned by Kate Hudson.
Truth in Advertising has a history of focusing on celebrity-endorsed ads. Its site includes a “Wall of Shame,” which lists Dr. Oz, DJ Khaled and Kim Kardashian, among others. The organization’s coverage of Gwyneth Paltrow‘s Goop’s deceptive claims led to the company paying a $145,000 fine.
At the same time, some of the claims on the “Wall of Shame” can only be described as petty. In the case of Jennifer Lopez, she was taken to task for using an extra to film a Fiat commercial, which was pointed out as having been filmed in Los Angeles not the Bronx as the ad claimed.
