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> with video messages of support from a clutch of celebrities released on Twitter the following month They really should charge more of these celebrities for e

> with video messages of support from a clutch of celebrities released on Twitter the following month They really should charge more of these celebrities for endorsing pyramid schemes.

jrmg 3y ago
It is unclear how these messages of support were obtained, but all four celebrities are available to hire through the website Cameo, which allows people to pay high-profile individuals to read out a script for them, for anything from a birthday greeting to a business marketing video. The Norris “shout out” to HyperVerse states that “under the leadership of CEO Steven, HyperVerse will be the leader of metaverse space”. Wozniak said: “I’m here to support Steven and HyperVerse”, and “I can’t wait for the HyperVerse”. Norton described HyperVerse as a “decentralised metaverse platform with infinite possibilities” and encouraged people to sign up. “I strongly believe Steven will lead HyperVerse to success. Let’s all join the HyperVerse. What are you waiting for? Do it now.” The video messages of support were released in January 2022 as HyperVerse was ramping up its global recruitment drive. Guardian Australia contacted Wozniak, Norris, Norton and Bass for comment, but received no reply. There is no suggestion they had any knowledge of HyperVerse’s business model when filming the messages of support and they make no reference to money or investments.
- michael_j_x 3y ago
  it's crazy that Wozniak would participate in such a service. Is he running out of money?
  - KomoD 3y ago
    It's a very low effort way for him to make money, $500 to record a 1-5 minute long personal video, or even more for "business" videos, $10k/video + $2,5k-$12,5k for license depending on duration
    - mihaic 3y ago
      That's very cynical. What's the point of "fuck you" money if you still have to be a talking money and sell your reputation?
      - vidarh 3y ago
        It's ironic that you call it cynical, but assume they see it as being a talking monkey (I assume "money" was a typo) and selling their reputation. That seems overly cynical to me. Many people will happily do things where the financial payoff doesn't really move the needle for all kinds of reasons ranging from enjoying it or wanting to be available to fans and admirers, to just filling dead time or boring moments. I'd imagine part of the appeal is that these services have made it quick and easy to use it as a way to fill dead time doing something (talking to fans) they often end up doing for free anyway.
        s1artibartfast 3y ago
        On His Cameo profile his rate is 10k for 10 minutes and says he is doing it for charity.
      - s1artibartfast 3y ago
        I think there is a big cultural and generational divide on if these types of associations are even reputation negative.
  - vidarh 3y ago
    I think some just like making themselves available, but then you see a lot of the ones listed on Cameo that looks "cheap" at ~$100 or so are videos of an average length <2m. If you can make $100 whenever you're bored and have 2 minutes or can sit down and churn out 20 in less than an hour for $2k, you might be tempted even if you have decent amounts of money.
  - DonHopkins 3y ago
    As much as I adore him, his hands are already dirty from participating in various BitCoin scams before. https://www.coindesk.com/tag/steve-wozniak/ https://www.coindesk.com/tag/steve-wozniak/ Video: Apple Co-Founder Loses Bitcoin Scam Ads Lawsuit Against YouTube. Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, recently lost his case against YouTube involving ads for a crypto scam that used his name and image without permission. Similar scam ads us... By CoinDesk Staff Jun 3, 2021 Markets: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Loses Case Against YouTube Involving Bitcoin Scam. A California superior court judge ruled the social media giant was not responsible for its users' content. By Sebastian Sinclair Jun 3, 2021 Finance: Apple Co-Founder Wozniak’s New Venture Lists Token to Help Fund Energy Efficiency Projects. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has launched Efforce, a company that facilitates investments in energy efficiency projects via cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. By David Pan Dec 5, 2020 Markets: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Sues YouTube Over Bitcoin Giveaway Scams. Wozniak is among 18 plaintiffs suing the video-sharing giant for allowing crypto giveaway scams using his likeness to flourish on the platform. By Sandali Handagama Jul 23, 2020 Markets: Steve Wozniak Has Joined an Energy-Focused Blockchain Startup in Malta. The Apple co-founder has joined his second blockchain enterprise, one targeting more efficient use of energy. By Daniel Palmer Jul 19, 2019 Markets: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Joins Crypto Startup Equi: Report. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak said Tuesday that he's now working with investment-focused crypto startup Equi, though his role is as yet unclear. By Nikhilesh De Aug 21, 2018 Markets: Tech Legend Steve Wozniak Scammed Out of $70K in Bitcoin. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak says he once lost seven bitcoin, worth more than $71,000 today, to a ruse involving a stolen credit card number. By Annaliese Milano Feb 27, 2018
    - Kiro 3y ago
      They used his name and image without permission and illegally in a scam. That's the opposite of participating.
      - DonHopkins 3y ago
        Keep reading. That was after directly participating in at least two crypto companies himself, Efforce and Equi. So he's been both victim and perpetrator. The fact that he had already been willingly involved in and personally endorsed multiple Crypto schemes makes it even more plausible that people would believe other scams claiming to have his endorsement. After getting scammed out of $70k and losing a lawsuit about having his likeness used without his permission, perhaps he should be more reluctant and picky about personally endorsing other crypto scams. When you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - beaeglebeached 3y ago
    Wozniak had like 4 marriages and 3 children, in a state that loves bleeding breadwinners dry in family court ( in fact after 10 years spouse is considered used up and fully depreciated so could be lifelong payouts). This may be a scenario similar to the doctor who killed Michael Jackson, who despite massive income was drowning and did desperate things .
    - rchaud 3y ago
      Couldn't he just have made another guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory?
- hannob 3y ago
  It appears to me that if you are part of a service where people can book you to say and advertise whatever they want, including scams, and you do absolutely no checking of what you say there, that sounds a lot like you are running a service for scammers, and "I didn't know what I said there" should not count as a good justification.
  - blowski 3y ago
    There’s a really blurry line that needs more clarity. When George Clooney tells me he uses Nespresso coffee pods, I don’t entirely believe him. If I found out that he didn’t, I can’t imagine trying to take legal action against him. But Chuck Norris endorsing a cryptocurrency? Should he be required to do due diligence on a client before doing paid advertising for them? That also seems unfeasible. Then what about the Kardashians advertising dieting pills? Supermodels advertising cosmetic surgery? It seems the line is affected by the fame of the celebrity, the product being advertised, and exactly what it is they say.
    - redavni 3y ago
      It's almost as if marketing is inherently evil.
      - kaibee 3y ago
        Marketing is like cryptocurrency, it isn't inherently evil, but... only just.
    - yjftsjthsd-h 3y ago
      > When George Clooney tells me he uses Nespresso coffee pods, I don’t entirely believe him. If I found out that he didn’t, I can’t imagine trying to take legal action against him. If a person knowingly lies in order to make money, why shouldn't they be legally at fault for committing fraud? Like, fine, we can make allowances for people reasonably believing that they were telling the truth and I understand that there are fuzzy cases, but there are also just objectively factually incorrect statements that were completely obvious to everybody involved.
- mvdtnz 3y ago
  Maybe you shouldn't endorse a company when "there is no suggestion they had any knowledge of HyperVerse’s business model". I think every one of these celebrities should be held liable for the bullshit they say.
rchaud 3y ago
Why? They don't make these deals directly, their agent or business managers do due diligence. And all the DD that's required is "Will my client be paid in full?" None of these celeb endorsements include claims of financial solvency or guaranteed returns.
- vidarh 3y ago
  If it's correct they got them via Cameo, Cameo does all the work, and the customer will agrees to terms that include providing factual information, so you're probably right that there's next to no DD because they know the money will be coming and unless it's some acute reputational risk I assume they'll just trust Cameo to deal with any problems. And presumably, Cameo does a lot of work to convince them they don't need to.
  - rchaud 3y ago
    Seeing that it was Cameo, yes, Wozniak should carry some responsibility here. He wasn't exactly wishing someone a happy birthday.
bell-cot 3y ago
Given the extremely lax laws around advertising (any el-crappo pizza joint can claim to have the world's best pizza, etc.), and that none of the celebs have any formal credentials in either crypto or finance, and that their relationship with Hyperverse was "paid $Standard_Fee to read words to a camera" - what laws have they broken, to be "charged" with anything?

> with video messages of support from a clutch of celebrities released on Twitter the following month They really should charge more of these celebrities for endorsing pyramid schemes.

jrmg 3y ago

It is unclear how these messages of support were obtained, but all four celebrities are available to hire through the website Cameo, which allows people to pay high-profile individuals to read out a script for them, for anything from a birthday greeting to a business marketing video. The Norris “shout out” to HyperVerse states that “under the leadership of CEO Steven, HyperVerse will be the leader of metaverse space”. Wozniak said: “I’m here to support Steven and HyperVerse”, and “I can’t wait for the HyperVerse”. Norton described HyperVerse as a “decentralised metaverse platform with infinite possibilities” and encouraged people to sign up. “I strongly believe Steven will lead HyperVerse to success. Let’s all join the HyperVerse. What are you waiting for? Do it now.” The video messages of support were released in January 2022 as HyperVerse was ramping up its global recruitment drive. Guardian Australia contacted Wozniak, Norris, Norton and Bass for comment, but received no reply. There is no suggestion they had any knowledge of HyperVerse’s business model when filming the messages of support and they make no reference to money or investments.

michael_j_x 3y ago
it's crazy that Wozniak would participate in such a service. Is he running out of money?
- KomoD 3y ago
  It's a very low effort way for him to make money, $500 to record a 1-5 minute long personal video, or even more for "business" videos, $10k/video + $2,5k-$12,5k for license depending on duration
  - mihaic 3y ago
    That's very cynical. What's the point of "fuck you" money if you still have to be a talking money and sell your reputation?
    - vidarh 3y ago
      It's ironic that you call it cynical, but assume they see it as being a talking monkey (I assume "money" was a typo) and selling their reputation. That seems overly cynical to me. Many people will happily do things where the financial payoff doesn't really move the needle for all kinds of reasons ranging from enjoying it or wanting to be available to fans and admirers, to just filling dead time or boring moments. I'd imagine part of the appeal is that these services have made it quick and easy to use it as a way to fill dead time doing something (talking to fans) they often end up doing for free anyway.
      - s1artibartfast 3y ago
        On His Cameo profile his rate is 10k for 10 minutes and says he is doing it for charity.
    - s1artibartfast 3y ago
      I think there is a big cultural and generational divide on if these types of associations are even reputation negative.
- vidarh 3y ago
  I think some just like making themselves available, but then you see a lot of the ones listed on Cameo that looks "cheap" at ~$100 or so are videos of an average length <2m. If you can make $100 whenever you're bored and have 2 minutes or can sit down and churn out 20 in less than an hour for $2k, you might be tempted even if you have decent amounts of money.
- DonHopkins 3y ago
  As much as I adore him, his hands are already dirty from participating in various BitCoin scams before. https://www.coindesk.com/tag/steve-wozniak/ https://www.coindesk.com/tag/steve-wozniak/ Video: Apple Co-Founder Loses Bitcoin Scam Ads Lawsuit Against YouTube. Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, recently lost his case against YouTube involving ads for a crypto scam that used his name and image without permission. Similar scam ads us... By CoinDesk Staff Jun 3, 2021 Markets: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Loses Case Against YouTube Involving Bitcoin Scam. A California superior court judge ruled the social media giant was not responsible for its users' content. By Sebastian Sinclair Jun 3, 2021 Finance: Apple Co-Founder Wozniak’s New Venture Lists Token to Help Fund Energy Efficiency Projects. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has launched Efforce, a company that facilitates investments in energy efficiency projects via cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. By David Pan Dec 5, 2020 Markets: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Sues YouTube Over Bitcoin Giveaway Scams. Wozniak is among 18 plaintiffs suing the video-sharing giant for allowing crypto giveaway scams using his likeness to flourish on the platform. By Sandali Handagama Jul 23, 2020 Markets: Steve Wozniak Has Joined an Energy-Focused Blockchain Startup in Malta. The Apple co-founder has joined his second blockchain enterprise, one targeting more efficient use of energy. By Daniel Palmer Jul 19, 2019 Markets: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Joins Crypto Startup Equi: Report. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak said Tuesday that he's now working with investment-focused crypto startup Equi, though his role is as yet unclear. By Nikhilesh De Aug 21, 2018 Markets: Tech Legend Steve Wozniak Scammed Out of $70K in Bitcoin. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak says he once lost seven bitcoin, worth more than $71,000 today, to a ruse involving a stolen credit card number. By Annaliese Milano Feb 27, 2018
  - Kiro 3y ago
    They used his name and image without permission and illegally in a scam. That's the opposite of participating.
    - DonHopkins 3y ago
      Keep reading. That was after directly participating in at least two crypto companies himself, Efforce and Equi. So he's been both victim and perpetrator. The fact that he had already been willingly involved in and personally endorsed multiple Crypto schemes makes it even more plausible that people would believe other scams claiming to have his endorsement. After getting scammed out of $70k and losing a lawsuit about having his likeness used without his permission, perhaps he should be more reluctant and picky about personally endorsing other crypto scams. When you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- beaeglebeached 3y ago
  Wozniak had like 4 marriages and 3 children, in a state that loves bleeding breadwinners dry in family court ( in fact after 10 years spouse is considered used up and fully depreciated so could be lifelong payouts). This may be a scenario similar to the doctor who killed Michael Jackson, who despite massive income was drowning and did desperate things .
  - rchaud 3y ago
    Couldn't he just have made another guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory?
hannob 3y ago
It appears to me that if you are part of a service where people can book you to say and advertise whatever they want, including scams, and you do absolutely no checking of what you say there, that sounds a lot like you are running a service for scammers, and "I didn't know what I said there" should not count as a good justification.
- blowski 3y ago
  There’s a really blurry line that needs more clarity. When George Clooney tells me he uses Nespresso coffee pods, I don’t entirely believe him. If I found out that he didn’t, I can’t imagine trying to take legal action against him. But Chuck Norris endorsing a cryptocurrency? Should he be required to do due diligence on a client before doing paid advertising for them? That also seems unfeasible. Then what about the Kardashians advertising dieting pills? Supermodels advertising cosmetic surgery? It seems the line is affected by the fame of the celebrity, the product being advertised, and exactly what it is they say.
  - redavni 3y ago
    It's almost as if marketing is inherently evil.
    - kaibee 3y ago
      Marketing is like cryptocurrency, it isn't inherently evil, but... only just.
  - yjftsjthsd-h 3y ago
    > When George Clooney tells me he uses Nespresso coffee pods, I don’t entirely believe him. If I found out that he didn’t, I can’t imagine trying to take legal action against him. If a person knowingly lies in order to make money, why shouldn't they be legally at fault for committing fraud? Like, fine, we can make allowances for people reasonably believing that they were telling the truth and I understand that there are fuzzy cases, but there are also just objectively factually incorrect statements that were completely obvious to everybody involved.
mvdtnz 3y ago
Maybe you shouldn't endorse a company when "there is no suggestion they had any knowledge of HyperVerse’s business model". I think every one of these celebrities should be held liable for the bullshit they say.

rchaud 3y ago

Why? They don't make these deals directly, their agent or business managers do due diligence. And all the DD that's required is "Will my client be paid in full?" None of these celeb endorsements include claims of financial solvency or guaranteed returns.

vidarh 3y ago
If it's correct they got them via Cameo, Cameo does all the work, and the customer will agrees to terms that include providing factual information, so you're probably right that there's next to no DD because they know the money will be coming and unless it's some acute reputational risk I assume they'll just trust Cameo to deal with any problems. And presumably, Cameo does a lot of work to convince them they don't need to.
- rchaud 3y ago
  Seeing that it was Cameo, yes, Wozniak should carry some responsibility here. He wasn't exactly wishing someone a happy birthday.

bell-cot 3y ago

Given the extremely lax laws around advertising (any el-crappo pizza joint can claim to have the world's best pizza, etc.), and that none of the celebs have any formal credentials in either crypto or finance, and that their relationship with Hyperverse was "paid $Standard_Fee to read words to a camera" - what laws have they broken, to be "charged" with anything?