What's the animal that changes colour depending on the environment? "Influencer" Ankur Warikoo may have failed in various ventures, but he knows how to survive as a chameleon. The PhD student dropout from a US university-turned-CEO-turned-Finfluencer-turned-author-turned-parenting guide-turned-life influencer-turned-Health influencer-turned...
We are not sure if even Ankur Warikoo can keep track of how many times he's 'turned'. You must have heard of Ankur Warikoo if you have ever gone on the Desi internet. He's fond of giving advice (on all life aspects) and rephrasing popular quotes without giving due credit.
Ankur Warikoo's whole Social media career is built like that. What's the problem? pic.twitter.com/2EwIibsihN
— Arpit verma (@arpit_vermaniac) May 25, 2022
In the latest, Warikoo has been wearing the disguise of a health influencer. Most notably, Warikoo's stint as a health influencer began after being roasted on the Internet for floating dubious investing platforms (crypto), resulting in people losing their money and also having endorsed a startup convention that was built only on lies.
And as Warikoo's track record holds, the health influencer stint has also invited severe criticism from actual experts on the topic.
Aug 2013 - I dropped from 88kgs to 69kgs on my way to 6 pack abs.
— Ankur Warikoo (@warikoo) June 5, 2023
I am celebrating its 10th anniversary by attempting to become my fittest ever!
In the last 16 weeks, I have dropped 8kgs, 4 inches off my waist, cheek fat, while building muscle mass.
By changing just 2 things.. pic.twitter.com/dfvyofbryF
This is some real epic sh*t from Ankur Warikoo. So epic, that its worthy of immediate flushing.
— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) June 6, 2023
➡️Whey protein for special populations - atheletes, sportspersons, bodybuilders, chronic liver and kidney disease ✅️
➡️Omega 3 supplements is only useful in people with high… pic.twitter.com/93r4RWxprU
[ALSO READ: Influencers swear by the Calorie Deficit Diet for weight loss. Dieticians have a warning though]
We are not sure what an influencer does by tweeting out a bunch of products on Amazon links if not recommending those very specific products for purchase.
typical from Ankur Warikoo, to say that oh its just information, it could be wrong, it could be right. I am just sharing because I need to keep twitter engaged.
— Aakarsh Dalmia (@cfp_dalmia) June 6, 2023
reminds me of - Vauld, Wint Wealth etc. the answer was always same.
fintech red flag - mentions ankur warikoo / rachana ranade on their website
— Vatsalya (@vatsalyatandon) August 23, 2022
https://t.co/Ga7Kq3rNMD
— Ankur Warikoo (@warikoo) July 7, 2022
I was a user of vauld before I worked with them, and continued to be a customer of their services. Which is what I do for all my endorsements. Skin in the game.
Vidur, our 11yr old, has been saving up all his money he has got over years, in a piggy bank.
— Ankur Warikoo (@warikoo) June 14, 2022
He recently learnt percentages at school.
So it was a joy to teach him compounding 2 weeks back.
Yesterday, he made his first investment.
6K in Bitcoin
5K in Ethereum
20K in Nifty50
The response by Warikoo: Oh well, it's just a thought, not everyone has to agree…
Then earlier this year, there was another case where Warikoo was dragged through the Internet for promoting a startup convention that made tall and false promises like having the likes of Elon Musk and Nitin Gadkari on the event. The reality was not even 1% of the promises.
Strong action should be taken against fraud organisers of World Startup Convention promising 9000+ Angel Investors, 1500+VC, guests like Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai and politicians.
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) March 28, 2023
There were none.
People like @chetan_bhagat @Prafull_mbachai @warikoo made videos for them. Big… pic.twitter.com/K274Qsc46V
Posters for events where Warikoo graces his presence describe him as everything from a business influencer to a personal development influencer and a mental health influencer too. Perhaps the biggest career advice that Warikoo can give himself is to describe what field of influencing he specialises in.
Sometimes, Warikoo is selling and making educational content, the other times he says nothing he says is advice or recommendations because it may or may not be true.
Well, while some people have been seeing through his claims right from Day 1, the Internet of course is inhabited by all kinds of people... including the gullible ones that the likes of Warikoo can manipulate (err, advise...). Tip 1: Take everything on the Internet with a pinch of salt. Tip 2: If it sounds too good to be true, take it with a bucket of salt.