We have long questioned Fox psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow's sanity but now there are reasons to question his integrity, too. It turns out he's a spokesman for a diet company - while billing himself as a "Fox News psychiatry expert." That is when he's not making bizarre "psychoanalyses" of Democrats from afar. But isn't this a violation of Fox News policy?
Media Matters has the scoop:
Fox News contributor Keith Ablow is serving as a "spokesperson" and infomercial host for a diet company called GOLO. Fox said in 2009 that the network "prohibits any on-air talent from endorsing products or serving as a product spokesperson."
But Ablow is at least the third person recently revealed to be engaged in such shenanigans. We recently posted about the firing of Fox News contributor Tobin Smith, after it was uncovered he had touted stocks for pay. It turns out Charles Payne also has some 'splaining to do. From Media Matters again:
Media Matters previously reported that Charles Payne, a contributor and frequent guest host for Fox News and Fox Business, was compensated to endorse the stocks of at least three companies since joining Fox. Payne was paid $40,000 to promote The Brainy Brands Company, "$25,000 by a third party" to promote NXT Nutritionals Holdings, and an undisclosed amount for a "consulting arrangement" to promote Generex Biotechnology Corporate. The share prices of those companies are now essentially worthless.
MarketWatch reported on June 18 that a Fox spokesman said "no Contributor to FBN, nor his/her firm, and/or family members are allowed to accept financial consideration of any kind whatsoever to issue research, advertisements, or to otherwise promote individual stocks or securities." As a result of the rule, Fox News fired contributor Tobin Smith, who regularly releases paid stock endorsements.
So do the same rules apply to Ablow? We previously reported on a controversy surrounding Glenn Beck's endorsement of Goldline that prompted Fox News to "tak(e) up with Beck's agent" the issue when it turned out his plugs had gone beyond "live read" ads on his radio show.
Stay tuned for further developments!