‘Today’ Show Host Savannah Guthrie Caught In Counterfeit Scandal
‘Today’ Show Host Savannah Guthrie Caught In Counterfeit Scandal
Today show host Savannah Guthrie finds herself embroiled in controversy after being implicated in a counterfeit scandal.
Savannah Guthrie’s new book, “Mostly What God Does,” was an instant hit, selling out immediately after it was released last week. Amazon’s “buy” button went down after the Today show star’s faith-based book sold out, prompting fraudsters to plot and promote imitation copies and workbooks related to the popular read.
Guthrie told Page Six that it was her mother who caught the scam and alerted her to the knock-offs.
“I couldn’t believe it. My mom sent it to me, and it says it’s a ‘workbook,’ and it’s even yellow like the color of the [real] book. But I didn’t write any workbooks, so don’t buy them!” Guthrie told the outlet.
Guthrie’s publisher, Damon Reiss of Harper Collins’ imprint W Publishing Group, told the outlet that fake copies inevitably enter the marketplace in the wake of such a successful book launch.
“When a book hits No. 1 as fast as Savannah’s did, third-party sellers will often create fake books,” he said.
“We are thrilled Savanah’s book continues to sell out in a matter of hours and days. However, that means scammers are still trying to sell fake copies.”
Eleven “workbooks” had flooded Amazon as of Friday, with one even misspelling the broadcaster’s name.
Guthrie warned her Instagram followers, writing — “These ‘workbooks’ are not real and not by me! Watch out (they spelled my name wrong — that’s the first clue). I haven’t done any workbook.”
Guthrie’s NBC colleagues, including Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, Sheinelle Jones, Willie Geist and Laura Jarrett, celebrated her latest endeavor at Peoplehood, in New York City. Media pals, Deborah Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Lester Holt, Poppy Harlow, Stephanie Ruhle and Arianna Huffington, were also in attendance, as was New York lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado.
“A book party about God! [There was] a lot of love. My husband gave a beautiful speech… I’m so happy and so grateful,” Guthrie said while attending the event.
She added: “The reception has kind of surprised and shocked and delighted me. I was really scared to put myself out there in this way. I still am in a lot of ways.”
“People want to talk about faith. They want to talk and have deeper connections, and I’m so glad to be a part of that.”
Guthrie’s publisher reportedly had the phony copies removed from Amazon.
The daytime personality recently sparked chatter as she toured the country to promote her book, when an absence prompted “Today” fans to call out her “disrespectful” interview with Kelly Rowland.
Rowland appeared on the morning show to discuss her new Netflix movie, “Mea Culpa,” but Guthrie initially refused to move past a conversation about Rowland’s former Destiny’s Child partner, Beyonce’s new music.
Guthrie finally picked up on cues that Rowland wanted to discuss her current project, but fans noticed the misstep and roasted the broadcaster on social media.
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