Tom Brady’s wellness brand, TB12, has long pushed unproven supplements at exorbitant prices as a core function of its business model. He’s promoted $100 recovery pajamas. He’s peddled anti-concussion water with no real scientific backing.
So, with a global coronavirus pandemic raging on, Brady’s brand announced its latest product on Monday: an immunity blend supplement called “Protect.”
The Protect supplement is generally similar to your basic Emergency-C or immune-support vitamin supplement that you’d find at any pharmacy. But in Brady’s case, his company is charging $45 for a non-FDA-approved product and choosing to release that product right in the middle of a pandemic.
Excited to announce the latest from @tb12sports. PROTECT is our new immunity blend supplement created to support a healthy immune system to help you stay strong. https://t.co/Ho8acHdiYn
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) May 18, 2020
The product doesn’t claim to protect users from the coronavirus (it can’t), but the timing here said all we needed to know. Immediately after the announcement, Brady faced backlash for trying to profiteer off a crisis with a questionable product.
"Immunity blend supplement" lmao this man is Gwyneth Paltrow in football pads https://t.co/hVCkdBNyxv
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) May 18, 2020
Florida man attempts to stop coronavirus with home remedy https://t.co/jEI0XS5WcX
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) May 18, 2020
The big visible asterisk on the front of the product is how you know it's legitimate and something that produces tangible, repeatable results. https://t.co/zumBAclkHZ
— Jon Tayler, Smiling Politely (@JATayler) May 18, 2020
Strike while the iron's hot https://t.co/0NeCJEkvRw
— Lyndsey D'Arcangelo (@darcangel21) May 18, 2020
Tom Brady shamelessly hawking an "immunity blend supplement" during all of this is just *perfect* https://t.co/EYZV37eWoN
— Collin Reischman (@CMReischman) May 18, 2020
"Folks, it's called PROTECT and you gotta try it. Very powerful, very strong. Our best doctors are saying it increases coronaflu survival rates by 70-80 percent. What have you got to lose?" https://t.co/KJnNfxeJce
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) May 18, 2020
if i use this snake oil, can i go out without a mask, tom? https://t.co/OR4WcfNLoQ
— michele (@inthefade) May 18, 2020
Made with 100% pure snake oil https://t.co/8VmxndRBR2
— Dr. Lawyer Nxlyn Moklyx (@DanielfromSport) May 18, 2020
When we gonna get the TB12/GOOP snake oil partnership with Gwyneth Paltrow? https://t.co/SLFvl2fh8Y
— David Fucillo (@davidfucillo) May 18, 2020
And, of course, our own Nate Scott called this move back in January. It’s Goop for Men.
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