Eddie McGuire threatens to sue Facebook over “erectile dysfunction” story
Eddie McGuire is threatening to sue Facebook over a fake news article that claimed the broadcaster was promoting a cure for erectile dysfunction.
A story appeared on Facebook reporting McGuire had partnered with US talk show host Dr Phil to create a product called "TryVexan".
"I've tried Viagra, I've tried Red Ginseng, I've tried Cialis. TryVexan blows them all away," McGuire is quoted as saying.
The fake news story, which was published under a bogus version of men's magazine GQ's website, said the "natural remedy" contained monkey head mushrooms and horny goat weed.
"I am so confident in the product Dr Phil and I have created that I am offering free samples to our viewers," the story claims McGuire said.
But yesterday the Collingwood president said the story was "completely bogus".
"Needless to say, I'm not CEO of that company nor have I imbibed any of their product or have known anything of it," McGuire told 9NEWS.
"My legal advisers today tell me it's some company out of Panama via Los Angeles, and somehow it ends up on Facebook without any checking and suddenly it's out there for public consumption."
McGuire said he believed Facebook had a "duty of care" to ensure content on its platform was truthful and accurate.
"How Facebook can actually publish this in Australia has got me beat," he said.
McGuire said he'd never even met Dr Phil and warned people to steer clear of the product.
"The last thing I want anybody to do is to think, because my image is involved in this, that this drug is safe," McGuire said.
"I've got no idea whether this drug is safe or otherwise but certainly in my situation, I've got nothing to do with it and I recommend, given this is their modus operandi, to stay as far away from it as you possibly can."