Influencers who have repeatedly broken advertising rules singled out on regulator’s website
Four social media influencers have been rebuked by regulators for repeatedly failing to disclose advertising on their accounts.
Chloe Ferry, Chloe Khan, Jodie Marsh and Lucy Mecklenburgh are the first to be named by the Advertising Standards Agency on a dedicated webpage.
The ASA contacted each of them with a request for assurances that clear and upfront ad labels would be used on advertising posts in future.
Lucy Mecklenburgh was formerly on The Only Way Is Essex
But all four either failed to give such assurances or gave them but then reneged.
ASA chief executive Guy Parker said: “We prefer to work with influencers and brands to help them stick to the rules, but the first influencers to be named on this list have been given every opportunity to treat people fairly about their ads.
“It’s not difficult: be upfront and clear when posts and stories are ads.
“If this doesn’t bring about the changes we expect, we won’t hesitate to consider further sanctions.”
The four will remain on the list for three months and be subject to extra spot checks by the ASA.
In the meantime, other influencers could join them on the list if they too are unable to follow the rules.
Chloe Khan broke advertising rules while her account was being watched by the ASA
If the new webpage fails to act as a deterrent, the ASA can take out its own adverts naming the influencers or it can work with social media platforms to have the offending content removed.
The influencers could also be referred to statutory bodies for possible fines.
In March, the ASA said it was watching the Instagram accounts of 122 UK-based influencers and said ad disclosure rules were being followed just 35% of the time.
Marsh has previously posted unauthorised health claims about food supplements
Last month, Geordie Shore’s Ferry, 25, was one of three reality TV stars reprimanded by the ASA for promoting debt advice service Debt Slayers without revealing that she was being paid.
In May, the ASA banned posts on TV personality Marsh’s Instagram account which included unauthorised health claims about food supplements which were not being clearly marked as ads.
Former Celebrity Big Brother star Khan and former Towie star Mecklenburgh were found to have broken advertising rules during monitoring.
Entertainment
MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report
Entertainment
Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact
An investigation into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour” on MasterChef has found that more than half of the allegations against him have been substantiated, including one of “unwanted physical contact”.
MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months.
The report also said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace’s return to MasterChef “untenable”.
The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants.
There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were substantiated. All were related to MasterChef.
While the majority of the substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated.
One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.
Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place post-2018.
Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014
Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been “cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.
Additionally, the report summary found that there were also 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. Those people were not named in the summary.
The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024.
Gregg Wallace on MasterChef. Pic: BBC/ Shine TV 2024
While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures prior to 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016.
While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.
Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace for contact today.
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