I can't say I'm surprised.
The Federal Trade Commission announced that it's reached a $25 million settlement with Reebok after charging the company with deceptive ad practices. The price tag makes this one of the largest false advertising settlements ever.
Reebok had claimed that EasyTone shoes would deliver, among other things, a 28% boost in butt strength as compared to other shoes. But these numbers were evidently just pulled out of Reebok's butt. The company, the FTC found, couldn't back up its claims of molding a "better butt with every step."
But come on: Did anyone really believe wearing these clunky shoes ("with balance ball technology!" -- whatever that is) would magically lead to a 28 percent firmer, tighter ass?
Regardless, I wish I could say that Reebok'll be ditching these awful shoes to focus on its CrossFit line, but given the profitability of this horribly gimmicky footwear, I get the feeling these "toning" shoes'll be around for a long, long time.