Mayim Bialik sues groups over false CBD endorsement ads in Florida court
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
“Big Bang Theory” and part-time “Jeopardy!” host Mayim Bialik has filed a lawsuit in a Florida federal court seeking damages against companies she claims are using her name and image to create the impression she is endorsing their CBD products.
In the lawsuit filed Thursday, Bialik, 46, is seeking damages against 32 unnamed companies, many based in the Dominican Republic, France or India, the Miami Herald reported.
The 27-page lawsuit lists the IP addresses for the companies because they are operating under false names, the newspaper reported. According to Law360, Bialik alleged that the companies use the actress’ name on their websites to promote fake products such as “Mayim Bialik CBD Gummies” and “Mayim Bialik CBD Oil” to drive customer traffic to their sales pages for CBD products. In her complaint, Bialik said she has never given permission for her name to be used and has not been compensated for its use.
‘Jeopardy!’ host sues dozens of groups over false CBD endorsement ads in Florida court https://t.co/MalFueCmyc
“Defendants misappropriate Bialik’s name, likeness and/or persona by promoting, advertising and marketing, offering for sale and selling or causing to be sold the unauthorized CBD products by falsely suggesting Bialik has endorsed, is sponsoring or may be actively associated with such goods,” the complaint stated.
According to the complaint, Bialik, who earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA, is very particular about what products or companies she chooses to endorse.
“The entire purpose of the Defendants’ wrongful activities is to create the false impression that Bialik is affiliated with and endorses certain cannabidiol products (the ‘Unauthorized CBD Products’) which she does not,” the lawsuit states.
Bialik is seeking injunctive relief, profits, punitive damages, attorney fees and litigation costs, Law360 reported.
In March, Bialik wrote a post on her Instagram account to address what she called clickbait advertising.
“There are many untrue things floating around the internet about many public figures, but I want to address one about me that looks very authentic but is indeed a hoax,” Bialik wrote. “I am not selling CBD Gummies of any kind and do not plan to do so at any point in the future. I have tried to get this removed to no avail. It’s not real.”
Bialik and her attorneys chose to file the lawsuit in a Florida court, the Herald reported. According to her lawsuit, the filing occurred in Florida because a “substantial part of the events or omissions are occurring in this district” and the companies are unlawfully advertising and selling these “falsely endorsed products” in Florida.
The defendants could not be immediately reached for comment, according to Law360.
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Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years From "Blossom" to "The Big Bang Theory," see photos of memorable moments from actress and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik's career. (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 1989: Mayim Bialik and Mickey Rooney attend Miss Hollywood Party on April 3, 1989, at Chasen's Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years Circa 1990: Actress Mayim Bialik poses for a portrait circa 1990 in Los Angeles. (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 1991: Child actress Mayim Bialik performs on March 29, 1991. (Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 1992: Actor Joey Lawrence and Actress Mayim Bialik attend the 29th annual Publicists Guild of America Awards on March 27, 1992, at Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City, California. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 1993: Actress Mayim Bialik during an interview with host Conan O'Brien on October 4, 1993. (Lesly Weiner/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 1994: The cast of Blossom actress Finola Hughes, actress Mayim Bialik, actor Joey Lawrence, actress Jenna Von Oy, actress Courtney Chase and actor Ted Wass pose for a portrait while celebrating the 100th episode of the television series "Blossom" on November 21, 1994, in Los Angeles. (Ron Davis/Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years Circa 1995: Actress Mayim Bialik poses for a portrait circa 1995 in Los Angeles. (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 1998: Mayim Bialik sighted on May 22, 1998 at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2002: Mayim Bialik (right) and husband Michael Stone during NBC 75th Anniversary at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. (KMazur/WireImage)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2004: Mayim Bialik during the opening night of "Cavalia" at Big Top in Glendale in Glendale, California. (Gregg DeGuire/WireImage for BWR Public Relations)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2005: Mayim Bialik attends the premiere for Showtime's New Comedy "Fat Actress" Starring Kirstie Alley at ArcLight Cinerama Dome on February 23, 2005, in Los Angeles. (Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2008: Actress Mayim Bialik arrives at "Live For Sderot," a benefit concert for Israel's 60th Anniversary of Independence celebration, held at The Wilshire Theater on February 26, 2008, in Beverly Hills, California. (Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2009: Mayim Bialik at the premiere screening of "Rex" held at Cinespace Hollywood. (Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2010: Actress Mayim Bialik arrives at the 17th annual Race to Erase MS event co-chaired by Nancy Davis and Tommy Hilfiger at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 7, 2010, in Los Angeles. (Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2011: Actress Mayim Bialik arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 14, 2011, in Los Angeles. (Barry King/FilmMagic)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2012: Actress Mayim Bialik arrives at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 23, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2013: Actress Mayim Bialik arrives at the 65th annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 22, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2014: Actress Mayim Bialik arrives to the 66th annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theater on August 25, 2014. (Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2015: Actresses Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting pose in the press room at The 41st annual People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre LA Live on January 7, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2016: Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik appear in a 2016 episode of "The Big Bang Theory." (Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2017: Actress Mayim Bialik attends the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Expo Hall on January 29, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2018: Actress Mayim Bialik attends a private celebration of The 70th anniversary of Israel hosted by the Consul General of Israel, Los Angeles, Sam Grundwerg on June 10, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2019: Mayim Bialik attends the Casting Society of America's 34th annual Artios Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 31, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (John Wolfsohn/Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2020: Mayim Bialik as Kat in "Call me Kat." (FOX via Getty Images)
Photos: Mayim Bialik through the years 2021: In this screengrab, Leslie Jordan and Mayim Bialik speak at the 26th annual Critics Choice Awards on March 7, 2021. (Getty Images/Getty Images for the Critics Choice Association)
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