If you’ve scrolled through X (formerly known as Twitter) in recent weeks, you might have noticed more than a few bizarre ads about your favourite Canadian TV hosts caught up in a “global scandal”. Users have specifically reported seeing altered images of Mary Berg—celebrity chef and host of CTV’s The Good Stuff — in various misleading contexts, including edited photos of her being arrested, crying, or fake headlines alluding to her being “ashamed” of what she did or “on-air comments” ending her career.
“These fake news stories about Mary Berg are connected to a crypto scam. I actually fell into the trap last year. They still call me at least once a week,” one X user posted in response to a fake news story stating, ‘Mary Berg – I’m ashamed of what I did!’
The advertisements direct individuals to fabricated news articles, leading them towards promoting investments in cryptocurrency platforms.
“They used to use Elon Musk to attract the marks. You may have seen Quantam AI ads saying invest $250 and get rich.”
These fake news stories about Mary Berg are connected to a crypto scam. I actually fell into the trap last year. They still call me at least once a week.
They used to use Elon Musk to attract the marks. You may have seen Quantam AI ads saying invest $250 and get rich. https://t.co/Hy5tb3gyuY
— Tony Smyth (@LateNightCam) January 5, 2024
My twitter feed is crammed with really poorly done fake hit pieces about Mary Berg. I’ve blocked dozens, literally. You still expect these platforms to police misinformation? They actually take money to share it.
— Shaye Ganam (@ShayeGanam) January 5, 2024
The ads often link to fake CTV News-lookalike websites, featuring fake interviews/arguments between Berg and Breakfast Television host Sid Seixeiro or between Berg and The Social host Melissa Grelo; these sites encourage readers to put their money into cryptocurrency platforms.
A post acknowledging these deep fakes was posted to The Good Stuff’s X account earlier this month, encouraging their followers to “remain vigilant” against these deceptive ads and report suspicious content to the platform they’re using.
We are aware of the ongoing issue of fake advertisements targeting Mary Berg. We encourage our followers to remain vigilant against these deceptive ads and report suspicious content to the platform they’re using.
— The Good Stuff with Mary Berg (@TheGoodStuffCTV) January 5, 2024
In October, it was reported that X rolled out a new ad format showcasing ads that can’t be reported or blocked. According to X’s manipulation and spam policy, it doesn’t allow spam or other types of platform manipulation, and users aren’t allowed to use X’s services to “engage in behavior that manipulates or disrupts people’s experience or platform manipulation defenses on X.”
Still, the ads have led many users to call out the lack of transparency on X and criticize the platform for promoting misinformation.
I don’t know who Mary Berg is but she needs to sue Elon Musk for defamation pic.twitter.com/e32Hh7NOsC
— DJ Chocolate Milk (@DJChocolateMLK) January 17, 2024
Is advertising on Elon Musk’s Twitter SO cheap that every Canadian on here is constantly subjected to one person’s weird vendetta/smear campaign against… Mary Berg? pic.twitter.com/YXLOopRJxO
— Kelvin! (@HeyItsKelvin) January 15, 2024
The accounts publishing the ads tend to have low follower counts and blue checkmarks (meaning they’ve paid to subscribe to X).