Zeta-Jones: Atkins Diet Claims Are Lies

The Smoking Gun ^ | 11/07/2003 | The Smoking Gun

[Yeti]

NOVEMBER 10--Fresh from a $24,000 victory over the British tab that published her wedding photos, Catherine Zeta-Jones is fixing for her next legal fight--this time, if you can believe it, over published reports that the Academy Award winner shed pounds via the Atkins diet.

In a warning letter sent last week to media outlets (see below), lawyers for Zeta-Jones assert that "her likeness and persona have been improperly linked" to the popular diet in press accounts, adding that the weight loss program "has been derided by nutritionists and other health care officials for decades." By incorrectly reporting that Zeta-Jones "uses and/or endorses the Atkins diet," the letter states, publications are "falsely representing to the average reader, including many young women who look up to my client and admire her beautiful appearance, that Ms. Zeta-Jones would recommend this diet to any person looking to lose weight."

Claiming that an association with Atkins could hurt Zeta-Jones's ability to land endorsement deals for "health-related products, attorney John H. Lavely noted, "In essence, my client is being made to look as if she's more concerned about her outward appearance than she is with serious health concerns."

While publications like the New York Post and London's Sunday Telegraph have claimed Zeta-Jones to be an Atkins devotee, an October 20 People magazine story reported that, "a source close to the famously curvy star" knocked down the diet stories, noting that the actress "eats what she wants" and exercises regularly.

Richard Rothstein, spokesman for the Atkins Nutritional Institution, told TSG that the company has not been contacted by Zeta-Jones's lawyers. "It's never been our policy to seek celebrity endorsements," Rothstein said. "Where tabloids get their info is a complete mystery to us." (2 pages)

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Click to the source to see the actual letter, which is interesting. First paragraph of the second page: they seem to think this false association was orchestrated.

[Yeti]

Eats what she wants and exercises regularly, eh? Sounds like good advice to me.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Wasn't it reported that she brings her award to the dinner table?

She annoys me.

[krb]

I don't blame her for this. You really aren't supposed to fake getting commercial endorsements, and you have to protect your name from that kind of stuff.

[Callahan]

Hard to believe Michael Douglas left Maureen Dowd for this chick--NOT!!!

[Wright is right!]

I eat what I want and as much as I want and never gain an ounce. It just so happens that everything I really love is Atkins-friendly. I thought from the headline that this was going to be another Slam-Atkins piece, but what it's really all about are endorsement deals. In particular, it appears that a pending deal might be potentially queered by the stories, which would 'splain the timing of this suit.

Michael

[techcor]

Good to see rules are rules.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

He was married to Mo Do?

I was not aware.

He definitely traded up.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

what rules?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

No one's going to report anything on this gal for fear they'll be sued! Note large tote bag for settlements.

Hollywood celebrity couple Catherine Zeta-Jones (L) and Michael Douglas were awarded 14,600 pounds after telling the High Court that they were 'devastated, shocked and appalled' that photographers had gatecrashed their wedding.(AFP/File/Nicolas Asfouri)

[BibChr]

Here are the serious health problems I've encountered since going low-carb, and then Atkins, in April:

• Punishing headaches weekly or more — gone
• Intractable, miserable tachycardia 2-3x/week — gone
• Acid reflux — gone
• Constant drowsiness, falling asleep on freeway — gone
• Pain all over when walking — gone
• Poor sleep — gone
• Hypertinkliasis — gone
• About eighty pounds of killer fat — gone

Oh! If only I had had a Hollywood actress to save me from all that misery! Oh!

< /blistering sarcasm >

Dan

[Ditto]

"a source close to the famously curvy star" knocked down the diet stories..."

OK. Someone had to post it.

[Yeti]

Did you change your activities or exercise habits at all?

[bk1000]

rules pertain to posting photos when certain 'subjects' are brought up. CZJ is one. Her photos will also accompany inane articles by Maureen Dowd. There are others, but I think you get it now.

[thulldud]

Hollywood celebrity couple Catherine Zeta-Jones (L) and Michael Douglas

Good thing they put that "(L)" in there. I might never have guessed which was Douglas....

[BibChr]

AFTER starting the diet, yes.

If you had said, "The only way to lose weight is by exercise," that would have simply been another "reason" not to diet. No energy, moving hurt and was no fun at all, so forget exercise.

But AFTER I started low-carbing, after the first few rough days, I experienced a startling improvement in energy level and overall good-feeling. So I started gradually ramping up my activity level, using stairs instead of elevators, parking further and further away, etc.

Dan

[Oldeconomybuyer]

bbbbbump...

[1Old Pro]

Good thing they put that "(L)" in there.

That stands for "Liberal" party. They should also have listed this as Michael Douglas (L-CA)

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Holy moly!

Thank you!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

LOL. Time for old Michael to get a jowl life.

BTW he looks a little down in the mouth. Pretty is as pretty does.

[ladyinred]

Oh sure, post pictures of her!
She is so beautiful, my hubby drools over her! :-)