A Look at Steven Bartlett’s Rise and Recent Challenges

Steven Bartlett, the youngest-ever Dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den at just 32, has made a name for himself as a successful entrepreneur.

As the founder of companies like Social Chain, ThirdWeb, and Flight Fund, he’s built an empire.

On top of that, his podcast, The Diary of a CEO, attracts a massive 15 million listeners each month.

However, despite his early successes, Steven has faced a series of setbacks and controversies that have recently shaken his career.

Advertising Controversy: Zoe and Huel Banned

One of Steven’s recent blows came last year when the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned his ads for health brands Zoe and Huel.

In a series of Facebook posts promoting these nutrition products, Steven praised their benefits without clearly disclosing his financial interest in the companies.

As both an investor in Zoe and a former director at Huel, the ASA found the ads misleading.

While both companies defended the posts, arguing that consumers could easily infer their commercial relationship, the ban stood.

The whole situation added to a growing sense that Steven’s overexposure could be starting to backfire.

Hayley Knight, a communications expert, pointed out that people might be growing fatigued by his self-promotion, raising concerns about the credibility of his endorsements and business decisions.

Resurfaced Rap Battle Video and Social Media Mockery

Things took an unexpected turn when an old video of Steven rapping in a battle as a teenager resurfaced online.

The clip, which featured Steven rapping about the potato famine, went viral, with many social media users mocking the young entrepreneur.

While Steven was clearly taking the rap seriously, the video only intensified the scrutiny on him, leading to more online jabs.

It’s safe to say that the clip was not the image he wanted to portray, especially amidst the ongoing advertising drama.

A Controversial Dragons’ Den Appearance

Another controversy arose from an episode of Dragons’ Den last year. Gisele Boxer, a contestant on the show, claimed that she had cured her ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) using acupuncture and ear seeds. After securing six offers from the Dragons, she chose Steven as her backer.

But things took a strange turn when it was revealed that the company, Acu Seeds, changed its name and listed Steven’s brother as a director, instead of him, shortly after the episode aired.

This raised eyebrows among many viewers, especially considering the unproven claims about the effectiveness of the ear seeds for treating ME.

Health professionals criticized the show for endorsing such unverified treatments, further fueling the backlash against Steven and the program.

Accusations of Misinformation on His Podcast

Perhaps one of the most serious criticisms Steven has faced recently came from health experts.

His podcast has been accused of spreading dangerous misinformation, especially when it comes to health advice. Episodes featured guests claiming that cancer could be treated with a keto diet and that the COVID vaccine had been harmful to society.

While Steven didn’t make these claims himself, he faced backlash for not challenging them, which experts said could mislead vulnerable listeners, especially cancer patients.

The BBC even investigated the podcast’s health-related content, uncovering multiple harmful claims made by guests.

Though Steven is not legally bound by broadcasting rules for his podcast, critics argue that his failure to challenge these ideas could harm public health.

Contradictions in His Story about Barack Obama

In a strange twist, Steven made headlines when he contradicted himself about a past interaction with former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Initially, he claimed that Obama had given him valuable advice while they were both on stage at an event.

However, he later clarified that while they were in the same space, they didn’t actually converse.

This apparent inconsistency led to some confusion about the details of his encounter with Obama, adding to the pile of controversies surrounding his public image.

Stepping Down from Huel’s Board

Adding to the list of recent changes, Steven announced that he would be stepping down from his role as a director at Huel, the meal replacement brand he had been involved with since 2021.

Although he still holds a small stake in the company, it’s clear that his increasingly busy schedule, which now includes a move to LA, has made it difficult for him to dedicate time to the role.

The company expressed gratitude for his contributions, but this departure marks another shift in Steven’s professional life.

The Future of Steven Bartlett’s Career

Despite these controversies, experts like Hayley Knight believe that Steven’s overall career won’t be drastically impacted in the long run.

His business acumen has proven to be his strong suit, and public figures often face cycles of both praise and criticism.

However, his public image will require careful management going forward, particularly in terms of his relationships with brands and investors.

If Steven wants to continue growing his business empire, he’ll need to address these concerns and maintain trust with the public.

While he may be facing a challenging period, Steven Bartlett’s career trajectory has shown resilience.

Time will tell how he handles these bumps in the road and whether his entrepreneurial spirit will prevail.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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