White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Was an Affiliate Marketer for a Fitness MLM
Developing story first seen 4 hours ago
New reporting confirms that Katie Zacharia was one of Beachbody’s independent distributors in 2013, resolving questions about a gap in her online work history. The revelation adds to scrutiny of the White House press secretary’s professional background, which has also drawn questions about her claims to have worked as a lawyer.
Zacharia says she promoted Beachbody’s Shakeology nutrition shake as an affiliate after returning from China, but stopped during pregnancy because she was concerned about its vitamin A content. She described the multilevel marketing operation to WIRED as “sort of a pyramid scheme”; Beachbody, now called BODi, says she was among 300,000 distributors in 2013 and argues its current business should not be conflated with its past operations.
- Zacharia was a Beachbody affiliate marketer in 2013.
- She promoted Shakeology after returning from China.
- Her professional background remains under scrutiny.
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Beachbody, now called BODi, sells fitness programmes and nutrition products. In 2013 it used independent distributors, who promoted products and could earn money from sales and from building networks of other sellers; this is known as multilevel marketing.
Katie Zacharia is the White House press secretary, the official who speaks to journalists on behalf of the president’s administration. Her earlier work has also drawn attention because public records and reporting have raised questions about her fundraising and claims of legal experience.
The story matters because it adds to public scrutiny of the background and qualifications of a senior government spokesperson. It also concerns how multilevel marketing companies describe their business models and the role individual distributors play.
Full account
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia’s professional history has drawn fresh scrutiny following her first briefing in the role. A review by WIRED of deleted social media and networking profiles points to a period of work that was not apparent from her online résumé: she promoted products as an affiliate for Beachbody, the fitness company that operated a multilevel marketing business.
Zacharia told WIRED she joined the programme after returning from China in 2013, at the invitation of a friend, and marketed Shakeology, a nutrition shake. She said she stopped using and promoting it because she was concerned about its vitamin A content during pregnancy. Beachbody, now called BODi, confirmed she was one of its independent distributors that year. The company said it had no record of employing her, and Zacharia also told WIRED she had never been an employee. She described the business to the outlet as “sort of a pyramid scheme”.
The report places this work amid questions about other parts of Zacharia’s background. Her LinkedIn profile describes her as an associate at Chinese law firm Zhong Lun from 2011 to 2013 and as general counsel at the nonprofit Fix California. WIRED’s review of tax filings found she had worked as a fundraiser for the nonprofit. The Wall Street Journal reported, and WIRED separately confirmed, that Zacharia sat the California bar exam but did not pass. A watchdog group has asked California’s State Bar to investigate her claims of being an attorney.
A separate report focused on the reception to Zacharia’s debut briefing, which it described as brief and halting, and highlighted former Trump communications director Anthony Scaramucci’s prediction that her tenure would be short. That account does not discuss the Beachbody affiliation or the questions about her legal credentials. WIRED, by contrast, concentrates on reconstructing her earlier work and distinguishes affiliate marketing from employment by the company.
Where outlets differ
WIRED examines Zacharia’s past work and the questions surrounding her résumé, including her Beachbody affiliation and legal credentials. The second outlet reports on her press briefing and Scaramucci’s reaction, without addressing those background issues.
The second report characterises the briefing as a bumpy start and notes its short length; WIRED’s account is centred on the findings from deleted online profiles and interviews.
More coverage
- The Hill — Zacharia 'tracked every news hit' to capture Trump's attention in press secretary search
- Daily Mail — DC Insider Poll: How long will Katie Zacharia last as White House press secretary?