TAN WARS AT DWTS AS AMANDA PROMOTES RIVAL BRAND
Bellamianta is show’s official partner
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Host Amanda Byram has become embroiled in controversy over some unauthorised social media posts advertising a tan brand.
Leading tan company Bellamianta are the official tan brand for Dancing with the Stars and have been getting the stars and the host beautifully bronzed for their on-screen appearances.
Amanda is said to be a fan of Bellamianta and has worn it for the last season as host of the dance show.
So there was huge surprise and fury among RTÉ and show producers Shinawil when Amanda posted three images last week of her wearing rival tan brand Cocoa Brown.
Using her Instagram account, Amanda uploaded three images, one of which showed her on the DWTS stage, promoting Cocoa Brown tan. Amanda is contracted to Dancing with the Stars and as such, is prohibited from promoting brands not associated with the show.
‘We can confirm that Bellamianta is the tanning partner for RTÉ’s television series Dancing with the Stars Series 2. We won’t be offering comment on any contractual arrangements as they are commercially sensitive,’ said an RTÉ spokesman.
Amanda is understood to be paid upwards of €30,000 for her weekly presenting gig for the 12-week show run.
‘She is paid very well for the gig, so it’s a bit rich if she is shilling her services to brands on the back of it,’ said a source on the show.
It is also understood that Amanda received a fee from Cocoa Brown in return for her social media postings.
As such, as well as falling foul of RTÉ, she is also in danger of flouting the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland [ASAI] rules which state that all paid promotions must be clearly marked with #ad or #spon to ensure transparency.
In all of her postings, there are no declarations that money has changed hands. Bosses at RTÉ are understood to be ‘absolutely furious’ with Amanda over her posts, which were subsequently removed or edited after the issue was raised with her.
Bellamianta has become one of Ireland’s leading tan brands since it launched three years ago. Meanwhile, in an unexpected move, Cocoa Brown founder Marissa Carter deleted all of her social media accounts and said she was saying goodbye to social media ‘for good’.
Both Bellamianta and Byram declined to comment this week.