GEORDIE Shore’s Marnie Simpson’s coloured contact lens adverts have been banned on Instagram.
The 27-year-old reality star regularly posts pictures wearing different coloured lenses from iSpyEyes, which are "zero-powered" and "non-corrective".
But now, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have upheld a complaint stating the lenses must be sold by an optician, optometrist or medical practitioner – not via social media.
Marnie's solicitor responded to the ruling to point out the FAQ section of iSpyEyes' website recommends potential customers to visit an optician.
It states on the website: "you should visit your optician for a lens fitting prior to purchase as all our lenses are one size', adding she wasn't encouraging unsafe buying."
The company also supplied legal advice stating the products were not covered by the Opticians Act 1989 because they were not designed to correct, remedy or relieve a sight defect.
However, the ASA argued Marnie's fans and consumers would assume the coloured contact lenses could be legally sold by the advertiser in the UK because they're "zero-powered".
It added the Eyecare Trust charity warns people that fitting lenses, poor hygiene habits and extended wear could lead to eye infections or in worse case scenario – loss of vision.
In a further blow to Marnie and iSpyEyes, The General Optical Council said the sales were illegal unless they were carried out by or under the supervision of a registered specialist.
The ASA said: "We had not seen any evidence that the lenses were being sold by, or under the personal supervision of, a registered optometrist, registered dispensing optician or registered medical practitioner.
THE RULES
The ASA rules that lenses must be sold by an optician, optometrist or medical practitioner – not via social media.
The General Optical Council added the sales were illegal unless they were carried out by or under the supervision of a registered specialist.
"It was therefore illegal for them to be sold from the website iSpyEyes.com to consumers in the UK.
"We told iSpyEyes and Marnie Simpson not to encourage an unsafe practice or to imply that they could legally sell zero-powered contact lenses in the UK."
A representative for Marnie – who is pregnant with her first child – told The Sun Online: "Marnie takes the concerns raised seriously and will address the ASA’s ruling in the proper way.
"No further comment is made."
Marnie has won a whole host of product endorsements since first finding fame on Geordie Shore in 2013.
As well as the coloured contact lenses, Marnie also promotes clothing and shoe brands, hair curlers, wigs, DIY hair removal products and electric muscle stimulators.
The reality star left the MTV show in 2018 and recently finished filming her very own reality show with boyfriend Casey Johnson.
However, this isn't the first time Marnie has been in trouble with the ASA, after a report was released in September last year naming her as one of many celebrities and influencers who weren't making clear which social media posts were ads.
She had also fallen foul of this offence in October 2017 after she uploaded images of products from two firms she has business relationships with, without identifying them as adverts.
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