When it rains, it pours. Just days after it was reported the Whole Foods supermarket chain yanked her Skinnygirl drinks, Bethenny Frankel is now facing a class action lawsuit over just that.
The AP is confirming that not one, but two new class action lawsuits have been filed against the Bethenny Ever After star and Beam — the company that purchased the Skinnygirl drinkline from her for a reported $100 million — alleging they lied to consumers about the contents of the Skinnygirl margarita mix.
Whole Foods released a statement last week confirming it pulled the products because “it contains a preservative that does not meet our quality standards.” Beam also released a statement admitting that while the Skinnygirl Margarita does contain the preservative sodium benzoate, it is in “very low levels.”
TMZ reports that in one of the class action lawsuits filed in California, a consumer claims she and many others were duped by Beam Global Spirits for making “deceptive statements” on the label of Skinnygirl. The label says the drink is “all natural.”
The lawsuit further claims that Beam’s advertisement that the drink is “all natural” and contains no preservatives are false because the drink contains sodium benzoate. Those behind the lawsuit want to force Beam to “engage in a corrective advertising campaign” and pay unspecified damages.
Beam released the following statement in response to the lawsuits: “In today’s litigious society, nothing is surprising. The litigation filed in relation to the labeling of Skinnygirl Margarita is frivolous. We will defend our case vigorously, and we are fully confident we will prevail.”
As for Bethenny, she has yet to respond to the lawsuits though she did defend her drink line yet again this week on her website. Her statement is below –
“We would not sell anything that I don’t personally drink. I’m a natural foods chef and health is a top priority for me and my family. The Skinnygirl Margarita is made with natural ingredients and its label is consistent with U.S. federal regulations, which is why it is carried in stores nationwide and continues to fly off the shelves.
I built my brand on trust and honesty. I don’t take lightly obvious attempts to put my integrity in question. I will always answer your questions and concerns directly and truthfully.”
Photo credit: WENN.com
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