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Is Anything Wrong With Pat Robertson Making a Killing?
Pat Robertson touted the benefits of his weight-loss shake via his nonprofit CBN on "The 700 Club."
(Associated Press)
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Busch has posted a broadside on his own Web site disavowing his endorsement of the shake: "I do not endorse this product and in no way should you expect the results I have achieved by consuming this product alone."
In a written reply to an inquiry from the Virginian-Pilot, Louis A. Isakoff, an attorney representing Robertson, characterized Busch's allegations as "bizarre, completely untrue and sadly mistaken."
Isakoff wrote that Busch was never offered an endorsement contract by Robertson or CBN. He said Robertson licensed his name and shake recipe to Basic Organics, a Columbus, Ohio-based manufacturer that produces the product and distributes it in GNC stores.
"Dr. Robertson, as a private individual, certainly has the right to engage in personal business ventures," Isakoff wrote.
Hawk is a consultant for Basic Organics.
Although ads for the shake have appeared immediately before the program on some stations, Isakoff said CBN has turned down requests by Basic Organics and GNC to advertise on "The 700 Club."
Robertson's shake recipe is still available on the CBN Web site. Alongside it is this advice: "You can purchase health supplements and shake products from high quality health food stores, like GNC."
The commercialization of Robertson's shake drew fire from the Trinity Foundation, a Dallas-based religious media watchdog organization. Trinity has been critical of past Robertson business ventures, such as his African gold and diamond mines and Kalo-Vita, a multilevel marketing company that sold vitamins and cosmetics.
Ole Anthony, Trinity's president, said Robertson improperly used his tax-exempt, nonprofit ministry to create a market for his shake.
"It wouldn't exist unless it was promoted on the donor-paid-for airtime," he said.
