Staff Reports
In a recent turn of events, Gov. Kristi Noem finds herself in hot water over a lawsuit filed by a consumer advocacy group. What’s the fuss all about, you ask? Well, it all started when Noem took to social media to sing the praises of her Texas-based dentist, Smile Texas. In what some are calling a five-minute infomercial-style video, Noem raved about the dental work she received, boasting about how it gave her a smile she could be “proud of and confident in.”
South Dakota governor sued over misleading social media video praising her Texas dentist https://t.co/HIyoJWwks6 https://t.co/HIyoJWwks6
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 14, 2024
But hold onto your dental floss, because the plot thickens. Travelers United, the group behind the lawsuit, claims that Noem’s video is nothing more than cleverly disguised advertising that fails to disclose her financial ties to the dentist. They argue that by not revealing her cozy relationship with Smile Texas, Noem’s video is “misleading” and “deceptive” to consumers. They even went as far as likening her to social media influencers, implying that she’s juggling two jobs – one as governor and the other as a savvy influencer.
The lawsuit takes aim at the governor, suggesting that her foray into social media influencer territory is rather unconventional for a sitting politician. They argue that her video potentially lured unsuspecting consumers into believing she was simply sharing her genuine satisfaction with the dental services, without realizing she was actually being compensated for her endorsement. The group further alleges that Smile Texas promotes medical tourism and that Noem should have disclosed the nature of her video as an advertisement, insinuating that she may have received free or discounted dental care in exchange for her glowing review.
But that’s not all, folks! Democratic state Sen. Reynold Nesiba weighed in on the matter, expressing his perplexity over the governor’s peculiar video. He’s calling for an investigation into the whole ordeal, raising eyebrows over the apparent enthusiasm Noem exhibited while discussing her dental experience. In his eyes, the video raises a myriad of questions that demand answers.
It looks like Gov. Noem’s social media shoutout may have landed her in a bit of a sticky situation. As the dust settles, the big question remains: Did Noem’s promotional video cross the line, or was it simply an innocent shoutout to her favorite dentist? Only time will tell!
