Coronavirus: reality star Benji Samat accused of promoting a site for selling questionable masks

In times of an epidemic, counterproductive and even dangerous messages “viralize” more than ever. But social networks are watching: beware of anyone trying to take advantage of the concerns raised by the health crisis! This is what has been criticized for several days to Benjamin Samat, 28-year-old reality TV star with southern charm.

Shortly before 8 pm, last Sunday, the ephebe of the "Marseillais in the Caribbean", on W9, publishes a short video on Instagram to invite its many fans - they are 1.6 million on the network - to order on a website a protective mask against coronavirus. A mask that "kills" but still costs 15 euros per unit.

It even indicates the link of the merchant site, a little as if it was a favor: "Good, for those who want the site, I give it to you, I will not make the stingy, I will not keep it for me . […] In my opinion, hurry, there, there is written low stock . "

Except that, contrary to what Benjamin Samat and the site he recommends, care-secure.com, promise, the mask does not protect against viruses, but against dust and pollution, if we believe other platforms who market it (at a lower price ...). Disturbing detail: this mask is the only product referenced on the site.

"It was to be of service ..."

In less than 48 hours, Benji Samat will be subjected to numerous criticisms, especially on Twitter. We will accuse the Marseillais of having played on the fear of a shortage of masks to make a product placement (source of income well known to reality TV candidates). But also to promote a “drop shipping” site (which sells products without being the supplier), marketing masks not adapted to the epidemic. "People on reality TV don't waste time," writes a surfer whose video has been viewed a million times.

WAIT FOR A Joke REALITY TV PEOPLE LOSE NO TIME #coronavirusen pic.twitter.com/vyvxyG1Fwz

Contacted Wednesday by Le Parisien, Benji Samat's agent seemed to be unaware that the mask did not provide real protection against the coronavirus. He denies any commercial operation in this specific case. “The rule with us is: no more than one product placement per day. We already had one that day. The story about the masks was to be of service on a Sunday evening. We were far from imagining that it would fall on us again, ”laments Sébastien Jaillard.

"While chatting in a private setting with his friends, Benji told them that he had found no mask on Marseille," says the celebrity manager. “One of them pointed out to him a site he had just come across that seemed to have some available. Benji asked him if he was sure they actually had it in stock. Her friend approached the site to ask them the question. Upon learning that Benji wanted masks, they offered to send them to him, and asked if he could just share the site link for those who would like to order them too. "

A site created ... the day before the story!

"When we do a product placement, I always ask about companies beforehand," continues Sébastien Jaillard. There are a lot of transactions that we refused because we understood that they were scams. There, I did not inquire, because it was not a product placement. Benji did not touch 1 € on it ”. "Benji told me about it before," insists the agent. We have not seen evil. He just wanted to be of service. He is disappointed with the reactions. "

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The Parisian tried to contact the managers of care-secure.com, without success. Only written in French, the site would be "edited" by a company domiciled in the American state of New Mexico ... When Benji Samat shot his video, the site displayed a Google "badge" certifying that it was from a trusted seller. This logo can only be a fake: the site was created very recently, on February 29, 2020, that is… the day before the Instagram story of Benji Samat! A strange coincidence.

"Benji, he's not a vicious person, he's the nicest guy in the world. It has always been straightforward with its followers, ”continues Sébastien Jaillard, who sticks to his version. "It has become a fashion to lynch reality TV candidates on the networks, at the slightest awkwardness on their part," he storms.

The celebrity agent concedes, however, that the practices pointed out by Internet users are a reality: “Since the story, I have received messages from six different sites selling masks to find out if we could talk about them for a fee. We systematically refuse. According to the manager, other celebrity agencies have shown interest in such operations.