Disappointed Tom Brady fans accused the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback of exploiting people's health concerns during the pandemic by launching his company's new homeopathic wellness product.
With immune system-boosting ingredients similar to those found in a packet of Emergen-C, consumers decided Brady's new immunity supplement was a hard pass.
Brady co-released the $45 health supplement product under his TB12 brand and nutrition start-up VitalFit and announced on Twitter:
"PROTECT is our new immunity blend supplement created to support a healthy immune system to help you stay strong."
According to the product description, Protect is formulated with "five clinically studied, innovative ingredients," including vitamin C, Zinc, Elderberry, and Beta Glucan and Larch Tree Extract—which both:
"support your innate and adaptive immune response by increasing circulating levels of white blood cells, replenishing antibodies post-workout (up to 47%), and helping immune cells coordinate an efficient, appropriate response to outside threats."
The product does not specifically state that it provides immunity against the virus responsible for the current health crisis.
The note marked by the asterisk at the bottom of the label is hard to ignore.
It reads:
"These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."
Although Brady never said Protect treats or prevents infection from the virus, he was quickly called out for the timing of the product's release with many people accusing him of taking advantage of "pandemic-related anxieties."
@sky__john @TomBrady @TB12sports 👎 stick to football, Tom. This is an attempt to profit off of pandemic-related anxiety, with bunk.— Nat Lester-Coll, MD (@Nat Lester-Coll, MD) 1589910315.0
@TomBrady @TB12sports Oh Tom this is so disappointing. The marketing of this product is clearly playing on people’s… https://t.co/2a2HTgmRbn— Julia Offord Pearman (@Julia Offord Pearman) 1589814629.0
@TomBrady @TB12sports Sad to see so many lose respect for Brady. He will never retire with the adoration he had, if… https://t.co/NZQ7LD6qGA— Maria (@Maria) 1589814689.0
@TomBrady @TB12sports Let’s use a pandemic to make money https://t.co/GEtlwMiG2G— Rozen21 (@Rozen21) 1589824736.0
Frustrated consumers invoked a well-known euphemism to accuse him of hawking an ineffective elixir.
@TomBrady @TB12sports I love that you've become a snake oil salesman and your cult will just buy your stuff. Thank… https://t.co/D4NMQlhr1p— Branch Covidian (@Branch Covidian) 1589814230.0
@TomBrady @TB12sports Will this stir well with my snake oil— Silvercorp Pickups (@Silvercorp Pickups) 1589819810.0
@TomBrady @TB12sports You are now a sleazy snake-oil salesman. Congratulations.— SIVA VAIDHYANATHAN🗽🤘🏽 (@SIVA VAIDHYANATHAN🗽🤘🏽) 1589902768.0
Livid fans drop-kicked the six-time Super Bowl champ to the curb.
@elizabeth_fels @TomBrady @TB12sports Oh FFS Tom! @CaulfieldTim make him stop!! Just drop back and pass Tom... stop… https://t.co/RMRnu2ZDCb— Stuart Phillips (@Stuart Phillips) 1589841850.0
@TomBrady @TB12sports Seriously???. Years to build a great reputation- yet it only takes a moment to knock it down. Dude. Just stop.— Howard Luks MD (@Howard Luks MD) 1589911035.0
Twitter kept the sarcasm going.
@TomBrady @TB12sports While we’ve all been “sleeping” and “depressed,” Tom Brady has found a cure to #COVID19 !!!—-… https://t.co/H8qUskMcrs— Daniel Sardiñas (@Daniel Sardiñas) 1589896582.0
@TomBrady @TB12sports Couldn’t get a reverse mortgage or walk-in tub commercial?— Lisa Bridges (@Lisa Bridges) 1589899779.0
@TomBrady @TB12sports Will this be available on Goop— MexicanIceCream (@MexicanIceCream) 1589834814.0
Amateur entrepreneurs offered a more economical solution to promote health.
@TomBrady @TB12sports Or, eat healthy, exercise, manage your stress, and get a good night’s sleep.— Bill DeLorenzo (@Bill DeLorenzo) 1589852086.0
It appears the former New England Patriots quarterback really fumbled with this one.