LOS ANGELES (AP) – Clint Eastwood sued several companies selling CBD supplements on Wednesday, alleging they are falsely using his name and image to push products that he would never agree to endorse.
Two lawsuits filed in federal court in Los Angeles include allegations that companies have released false articles reporting that the 90-year-old actor and director is leaving the film business to focus on a CBD business.
The lawsuits say Eastwood is not involved in the manufacture, sale, or promotion of CBD, a chemical derived from marijuana that is often sold as a dietary supplement or included in creams and ointments.
In the millions-seeking lawsuits, Eastwood names nearly 20 small businesses, based in states such as Arizona, California, Delaware, and Florida, that sell CBDs, along with up to 60 anonymous entities that can be named later.
One of the companies, Sera Labs, said in a statement that “it worked for a limited time with an editor and gave them specific ads they could use that followed our strict guidelines and closed the ads immediately after learning they used the Eastwood name. ” and likeness. “
The company said its guidelines prohibit the use of such false claims in its ads and has cut all relationships with the advertiser, and urged others in the industry to do the same.
Other companies named in the lawsuit, including Patriot Supreme and Norok Innovation Inc., did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
The lawsuit says that fake news articles about Eastwood and his alleged defense and sale of CBD have been spread via email and social media.
The headline of one of these stories reads: “Big Pharma outraged by Clint Eastwood’s CBD … He shoots this!”
Another headline reads: “Breaking News: Clint Eastwood exposes a shocking secret today.” The story includes links to buy what it says are Eastwood’s CBD products and quotes from a fabricated interview where Eastwood says he moved out of the movie business. That article also includes false testimonials about the products of various celebrities, the lawsuit says.
One of the lawsuits also alleges that companies are using hidden labels and other tactics linking Eastwood’s name to their products in online searches.
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