Ian Somerhalder Draws Mixed Reactions Hawking Supplements

Ian Somerhalder took to social media to announce a hair supplement line and limited-edition “Vampire Diaries” daylight rings, drawing mixed reactions from fans.

Some questioned whether the former actor was relying on longtime fans to support his latest ventures. Earlier this year, Somerhalder also opened up about why he quit acting following the cancellation of his Netflix series “V Wars.”

Ian Somerhalder Unveils Hair Supplements And Daylight Rings

Ian Somerhalder has made headlines for his latest business venture. The “Vampire Diaries” actor, who played Damon Salvatore on the series, took to Instagram to announce a supplement called “HAIR.” He said it was “designed to support thicker, healthier hair and hair growth from within.”

Somerhalder said the pills, apparently created in collaboration with The Absorption Company, contain “clinically studied ingredients” and are designed for fast absorption. Images of him promoting the supplements soon drew a strong reaction from fans.

The retired actor also launched limited-edition “Vampire Diaries” daylight rings, modeled on the fictional jewelry that allowed his character and other vampires to walk in the sun. He said he would personally sign every collector box ordered.

Fans Question Ian Somerhalder’s Hair Supplement Pitch

4

While some fans commended Somerhalder for the venture, others criticized what they saw as a financially motivated move.

One Reddit user said there was something “weird about actors who blew up through a CW or YA show” and later began “relying on the last standing die-hard fans who still dream of meeting them.”

Someone else wrote, “Maybe my standards for shills are too high, but I think your hair should look nice if you’re gonna be selling hair supplements.”

A third person added, “He looks rough here. Is he shilling supplements/vitamins, too? I guess their Twilight and Vampire Diaries money is drying up.”

Somerhalder Says “V Wars” Troubles Pushed Him Away From Acting

4

Somerhalder and his wife have pursued several business ventures since he left Hollywood in 2019 and moved to a California farm.

On a July 9 episode of the “Haley on the Go” podcast, the 47-year-old shared what he called the “really honest, kind of controversial” reason he quit acting. He recalled how the cancellation of his Netflix series “V Wars” affected him.

“I wanted to do V Wars because it was me, not as a vampire; it was me as a scientist,” he said, per PEOPLE. “[We] shot the show, moved my whole family to Northern Ontario. Worked really hard on this thing for almost a year, and the show that got turned in wasn’t even watchable.”

“I said to the studio, I don’t want to put my name on this. I’ll give you the money back — I’ll give you millions of dollars. And they were like, ‘What? What are you talking about?’” he continued.

Ian Somerhalder Details The Power Struggle Behind “V Wars”

4

Somerhalder said he and his producing partner, James Gibb, sought creative control of the show “to fix it,” but Netflix would not give them more money.

They went on to raise $6 million and spent long hours filming. Somerhalder said the exhaustion landed him “in the hospital.”

He described “V Wars” as a “hit” when it premiered in December 2019, but said it was canceled anyway.

“The execs were fighting, and someone quietly canceled the show. And the powers that be at Netflix were like, ‘It’s unfortunate. Yes, it shouldn’t have happened. We can’t go back, because it would set a precedent that would be terrible, so the show is done,” he said.

The experience convinced him it was time to leave acting. He said he did not want to keep creating something “for this executive who had issues in high school, so they want to exert power now, [to cancel it].”

Somerhalder Says He And Nikki Reed Sold Assets To Clear Debt

4

The “Lost” alum said his move away from acting coincided with a major financial setback that left him and his wife in an “eight-figure hole.”

In a conversation with E! News, Somerhalder attributed the “financial upheaval” to a business he said he didn’t build properly.

“I retired from acting seven years ago,” he told the outlet. “I left an insanely lucrative career in television after financial upheaval from building a business that I didn’t build properly.”

He said fraud worsened the situation, but he and Nikki Reed climbed out of debt by selling much of what they owned.

“Eight figures is a hard hole to climb out of. But Nikki [Reed] and I did it. You know, she really negotiated us out of this deal, but we sold houses, paintings, cars, watches, everything,” he said.

“I should’ve been retiring off of one of the biggest TV shows in the world [instead of] starting companies that were not gonna pay me possibly ever,” the actor added.