An advertisement promoting a fictitious story that Dana Perino, the former White House Press Secretary and current co-host of Fox News’ The Five, was quitting the show because of conflicts with fellow Fox host Sean Hannity and a rumored lawsuit against the network was approved by Meta on May 19, 2024.

The Facebook and Instagram advertisement made the untrue claim that Perino’s departure was related to her recent business endeavor, a line of CBD gummies.

With headlines like “It’s Official: We Say Farewell to Dana Perino” and “A Sad End to a Brilliant Career,” the deceptive advertisement, which was displayed in both right-column and news feed formats, was intended to draw attention.

The clickbait headlines made it seem as though Perino had left The Five under dramatic circumstances, citing a lawsuit and tensions with Hannity as the main reasons.

In actuality, Dana Perino had nothing to do with any scandal involving Sean Hannity or her departure from the show. The allegations regarding Perino’s business endeavor were completely false, and Fox News was not sued. As part of a broader scam, the advertisements led users to an article on freshdailydrive.com that, before directing them to the fraudulent content, linked to a dubious URL (falcondownholesolutions.com).

According to the article, “Dana Perino Leaves The Five and Sparks Major Lawsuit Against Fox: Her Response on Air,” Perino and Hannity’s sponsors had a falling out over a product called Fortin CBD Gummies that supposedly “reversed dementia.” It stated that Fox’s sponsors withdrew their support because Hannity was upset about the product, which allegedly broke his contract. This was cited in the scam article as the reason Perino allegedly left The Five.

The article’s information was wholly untrue. It was designed to mimic the appearance and feel of a real Fox News story, probably to trick readers into thinking it was authentic. In the fictitious interview, Dana Perino allegedly talked about her CBD product, Fortin CBD Gummies, which was hailed as a ground-breaking remedy for a number of ailments. Another flagrant fabrication in the article was the claim that Perino’s product was “five times more effective” and “90% cheaper” than rival products from major pharmaceutical companies.

Despite the dramatic claims, none of them are backed up by any evidence. There is no proof that Dana Perino and Sean Hannity are at odds over such matters, and she has no involvement in any business endeavors related to CBD products. The assertion made in the article that Hannity was suing Perino for breaching his contract and forcing sponsors to withdraw their support is completely unfounded. The lawsuit and the conflicts between the two Fox News hosts are not documented in the public domain.

The purpose of the ad campaign was to deceive users into clicking on a phony article, which could expose them to inaccurate or dangerous content. In the past, similar scams have preyed on users by posing as advocates of CBD products and other health-related supplements, frequently using the names of well-known public figures to give their claims legitimacy.

The article made the unfounded accusation that Jesse Watters and other Fox News hosts were endorsing Perino’s CBD line in an attempt to further influence readers. In actuality, neither Dana Perino nor any of her Fox News coworkers are known to have endorsed these purported “miracle” CBD gummies.

Additionally, medical claims about CBD products were misrepresented in the fraudulent article. For example, it made a claim that defies accepted scientific knowledge: Fortin CBD Gummies could reverse dementia. The British Alzheimer’s Society states that there is no proof that cannabis or CBD oil can prevent, reverse, slow down, or stop dementia-causing illnesses. Medical professionals have refuted these kinds of unfounded claims, so they should be viewed with suspicion.

This incident brings to light the growing issue of online scams that use social media platforms to deceive users by offering fraudulent products and fake news. Users should exercise caution when clicking on sensational advertisements or articles, particularly those that make unsubstantiated claims of celebrity endorsements or health miracles. Although the deceptive advertisements have since been taken down by Meta, this serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to double-check information and be on the lookout for dishonest online marketing strategies.

In conclusion, there is no conflict with Sean Hannity, no lawsuit involving Fox News, and Dana Perino is not quitting The Five. The deceptive advertisements on Meta platforms that contained these untrue statements were a component of a fraud scheme designed to take advantage of users’ trust. As always, it’s important to confirm the veracity of any claims before disseminating or acting upon them, especially when they pertain to celebrity endorsements or health products.