Kathy Hilton learned a hard lesson about online ads after being tricked by an AI-generated promotion for a celebrity-endorsed Jell-O diet.
During the season 15 reunion of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the 67-year-old reality star revealed she fell for a scam that falsely claimed Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Kelly Clarkson had lost weight using a special Jell-O diet involving vinegar and baking soda.
"I went on the Jell-O diet," Kathy said. "There's a new Jell-O diet that Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Kelly Clarkson [did]—with vinegar and baking soda."
Although she initially thought the diet was real after losing two pounds on the first day, she told co-stars Kyle Richards, Dorit Kemsley, Erika Jayne, Sutton Stracke, and Bozoma Saint John that it negatively impacted her health.
"It has messed up my whole entire system," she continued. "I was so bloated I could not fit into anything."
Eventually, Kathy realized the truth: "They were lying to me. It was all AI."
Oprah's team confirmed the diet was a scam, telling Today in a statement: "Unless something is posted on her personal IG page @oprah, it is not something she is involved in... consumers should please take extra caution before providing their personal information or purchasing any such products."
Oprah herself has been open about using GLP-1 medication as a tool for weight management, telling People in December 2023: "I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing."