Claim: Comedian and television host Vice Ganda promotes Herbapure, a product that claims to be a herbal weight loss supplement.
Why we fact-checked this: The claim was posted on August 9 and continues to draw social media engagement. As of writing, the post has 13,000 views, 189 reactions, and 98 comments.
The video features Vice Ganda seemingly promoting an alleged herbal supplement, saying it has been effective for weight loss. Text overlaid on the video reads: “Pati mga celebrities hook na hook na! Para sa mas magaan na katawan.”
(Even celebrities are hooked! [This product is for] a lighter body.)
A link to place orders for the product is included in the post’s comment section, which redirects users to a page that appears to be an order website for Herbapure.
The facts: On October 20, Vice Ganda debunked the claim on her official and verified Facebook account, calling the video AI-generated.
The post reads, “This video is NOT LEGIT! Hindi ko po ineendorso itong herbal supplement na pampa-payat! The video was AI-generated using my old TikTok video tungkol sa bagyo last year. Ginaya ang pananamit, kilos, at pati boses ko!”
(This video is not legit! I do not endorse this herbal weight loss supplement! The video was AI-generated using my old TikTok video about the storm last year. My clothing, actions, and even my voice were imitated!)
The original TikTok video, where Vice Ganda discusses Super Typhoon Carina, was posted on July 7, 2024. The misleading Facebook video altered the clip to falsely claim that the comedian was talking about the weight loss supplement.
Not FDA registered: The Philippine Food and Drug Administration’s list of registered products does not include Herbapure.
Target of dubious claims: Vice Ganda has been a frequent target of disinformation. Rappler has debunked these claims:
Rappler has also debunked various claims related to alleged health products that use the names and images of famous personalities to imply their endorsement. – Owenh Toledo/Rappler.com
Owenh Toledo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
