Samsung fridge shows creepy Apple TV ad, sending woman into a psychotic episode

[midian182]

WTF?! A woman with schizophrenia was hospitalized after seeing an Apple TV+ ad on her Samsung smart fridge. Because the ad coincidentally used her name, the woman believed someone was attempting to communicate with her through the appliance.

Samsung said in September that it would start showing ads on its Family Hub refrigerators' cover screens. According to the company, the ads are designed to enhance value for owners. Unsurprisingly, most owners aren't happy about yet another one of their screens showing ads.

A UK-based Redditor writes that their schizophrenic sister believed she was having a psychotic episode when an advert for Apple TV+ appeared on her Samsung fridge.

Credit: Shellnanigans

The ad, which was promoting the popular Apple TV+ show Pluribus, showed black text on a yellow background that read, "We're sorry we upset you, Carol."

Unfortunately, the woman in question's mental health issues, and the fact she's also called Carol, sent her spiraling. She phoned her sibling to tell them that someone was trying to communicate with her through the fridge. She then booked a taxi to the local hospital's emergency department.

The woman spent two days at the hospital under observation and had her medication adjusted.

The sibling later discovered a photo of the same Apple TV+/Pluribus ad being shown on a smart fridge. The sister confirmed it was the same one she saw.

It was also revealed that the woman in question uses medication to control her condition and has a history of psychotic episodes about once every two years.

The Reddit post questions whether running creepy ads like these is legal. Many have pointed out that unless the person disabled ads on the fridge but it kept showing them, Samsung has done nothing wrong.

One person does note that the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) evaluates "appropriate placement," so the agency could decide that an ad such as this one may be considered inappropriate.

Samsung pushed out a software update in November allowing owners of its very expensive refrigerators to turn off the ads. To disable them, head to the Settings section on the Family Hub screen, tap advertisements, tap Cover Screen Ads, then use the toggle to turn them off.

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Samsung fridge shows creepy Apple TV ad, sending woman into a psychotic episode

 

[noel24]

I got the same when turn on My Windows PC. Am I crazy?

 

[yRaz]

I don't know exactly how true this story is. When I first read it a few days ago there was some doubt as to the legitimatacy of this store. With that said, I can see something like this to plausibly causing someone who is already mentally ill into a psychotic episode.

I think the big problem here is that we don't need $3000 "luxury" products showing us ads. Refrigerators have workednfine before the creation of the internet, I don't know what service could possibly justify an internet connection and a subscription.

 

[brunocasarini]

I think we really don't need to have our houses and almost all our appliances connected to the internet.

 

[Stiqy]

I don't know exactly how true this story is. When I first read it a few days ago there was some doubt as to the legitimatacy of this store. With that said, I can see something like this to plausibly causing someone who is already mentally ill into a psychotic episode.

I think the big problem here is that we don't need $3000 "luxury" products showing us ads. Refrigerators have workednfine before the creation of the internet, I don't know what service could possibly justify an internet connection and a subscription.

The consumer bought it, willingly, and not under compulsion.
We will get whatever we are willing to buy.

 

[yRaz]

The consumer bought it, willingly, and not under compulsion.
We will get whatever we are willing to buy.

I think the controversy with the ads is that Samsung changed their TOS to add them after the purchase of the deviceso in many cases, the consumer didn't willingly pay for this.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I think the controversy with the ads is that Samsung changed their TOS to add them after the purchase of the deviceso in many cases, the consumer didn't willingly pay for this.

The consumer willingly paid for a internet connected smart device, with a EULA agreement that allows the manufacturer to change the terms at any time without consent.

The consumer willingly paid for this. We warned of this for years and nobody listened. Now they suffer the consequences. They could have bought simpler devices without screens instead.

 

[yRaz]

The consumer willingly paid for a internet connected smart device, with a EULA agreement that allows the manufacturer to change the terms at any time without consent.

The consumer willingly paid for this. We warned of this for years and nobody listened. Now they suffer the consequences. They could have bought simpler devices without screens instead.

Mind explaining how that makes any of this right? If you look at the automobile industry, these practices are inescapable even to informed consumers. How long until you can only buy refrigerators the require an internet connection? It only took about 5 years with cars

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Yeah smart appliances will stay out of my kitchen forever.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Mind explaining how that makes any of this right? If you look at the automobile industry, these practices are inescapable even to informed consumers. How long until you can only buy refrigerators the require an internet connection? It only took about 5 years with cars

Mind showing me where I said it was right? I said "you get what you deserve".

The consumer deserves this, because the consumer consistently, despite half a decade+ of warnings, chose the cheapest internet connected smart devices instead of simpler, more reliable, but more expensive models that were not as shiny.

Same thing with cars. Consumers ***** and moan about all the screens, but what sells? If new models with all the screens saw 90%+ sales declines, guess what would come back? Thats right, physical controls!

This can still be fixed. If consumers, wholesale, boycotted internet connected appliances, dumb appliances WOULD make a comeback. And yes, you can still do that. My father just got all new appliances for his house, NONE of them have an internet connector or a screen. Funny how that works.....

 

[yRaz]

Mind showing me where I said it was right? I said "you get what you deserve".

The consumer deserves this, because the consumer consistently, despite half a decade+ of warnings, chose the cheapest internet connected smart devices instead of simpler, more reliable, but more expensive models that were not as shiny.

Same thing with cars. Consumers ***** and moan about all the screens, but what sells? If new models with all the screens saw 90%+ sales declines, guess what would come back? Thats right, physical controls!

This can still be fixed. If consumers, wholesale, boycotted internet connected appliances, dumb appliances WOULD make a comeback. And yes, you can still do that. My father just got all new appliances for his house, NONE of them have an internet connector or a screen. Funny how that works.....

Screens and computers in computers aren't going away in vehicles because it's cheaper than making analog systems. These companies aren't giving up their margins.

And I don't understand how a mentally ill customer in this scenario got what they deserved. I'm calling it a scenario because I don't believe this story. What if it was installed by the homebuilder or landlord? It's a stretch to say a person with a neurologic disorder, likely unable to make rational decisions l, deserved to have a psychotic episode triggered by an appliance

 

[AlexIL]

Samsung certainly did stellar job at convincing me not to buy any of their products unless it’s a piece of bare metal, like a fork. Great job shooting themselves in the leg.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Screens and computers in computers aren't going away in vehicles because it's cheaper than making analog systems. These companies aren't giving up their margins.

That's a full ine of BS and you know it. If they were cheaper, they would have appeared on the low margin products first, not the highest end. All these companies still use physical controls in 2nd and 3rd world economies, despite screens being "cheaper".

Or you could just look up the price of replacement parts, see you could do your physical controls 5x over and still not be at the price of one screen assembly, and know its all BS.

And guess what? If consumers refused to buy them, companies WOULD give up those "margins", because no amount of margin is gonna fix a 90% drop in sales. This is what Honda did when Civic sales tanked, and it worked!

And I don't understand how a mentally ill customer in this scenario got what they deserved. I'm calling it a scenario because I don't believe this story. What if it was installed by the homebuilder or landlord? It's a stretch to say a person with a neurologic disorder, likely unable to make rational decisions l, deserved to have a psychotic episode triggered by an appliance

"consumers" refers to people who buy these things. But sure, lets go with this one example.

Why would a mentally ill person who has issues with paranoia connect her fridge to her wifi? The landlord didnt do that. You dont need internet for the fridge to get cold. STOP CONNECTING **** THEN WHINING IT DOES BAD THINGS!!!!

 

[axiomatic13]

As an owner of one of these refrigerators, this was a big change in the way the screen used to act. There was no advertising for four years then an update came in November 2025 that added these large ads. I am very technical so I suppressed them immediately, but I can see where someone less technical might not know what to so. To then throw schizophrenia in to this conundrum. I feel for this lady. Those of you without compassion for this woman, do better.

 

[Gezzer]

Why do you guys constantly feed the troll. They have a history of consistently choosing the most conversital position they can and then arguing it till it fills the comment section.

 

[Northy]

Why do you guys constantly feed the troll. They have a history of consistently choosing the most conversital position they can and then arguing it till it fills the comment section.

Engagement and controversy are more important than anything, social media and news have proven this to the winning formula for online success. You calling against it proves it is working here too.

 

[p51d007]

I'm just waiting for the day, all these CONNECTED to the internet "appliances", turn into transformers and take over the world.

 

[BuckarooBonzaii]

Looking to be a Creepypasta movie candidate. But anything IoT can be a candidate too.

 

[pcnthuziast]

Consumerism can become a mental illness in and of itself.

 

[Knot Schure]

I got the same when turn on My Windows PC. Am I crazy?

That sounds like terrible screen burn in.

Best get a new monitor.

 

[whateversa]

I suppose the definition of 'creepy' is relative. I don't think people bought an expensive fridge knowing it will be a marketing tool in their kitchen.

I recall in primary school walking into a room with the TV left on - Hannibal was doing something awful to a man that he had paralyzed. I was disturbed by that for 2 decades. That was public TV, no warning, no consent... I'd say horrifying stuff like that should only be available on demand or on those days via rental.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

As an owner of one of these refrigerators, this was a big change in the way the screen used to act. There was no advertising for four years then an update came in November 2025 that added these large ads. I am very technical so I suppressed them immediately, but I can see where someone less technical might not know what to so. To then throw schizophrenia in to this conundrum. I feel for this lady. Those of you without compassion for this woman, do better.

If you are schizophrenic, to the point that hearing your name from a device sends you into a psychotic breakdown, why do you own any appliances that can talk? someone with schizophrenia should be avoiding such technology, if they choose to use an Alexa that knows their name, knowing what happens when they hear their name being repeated by technology, then they brought that on themselves.

And again, there have been very public conversations warning about this (the ads and personal data tracking) for years now. At some point, you are responsible for yourself and your health.

Those of you with suicidal empathy, do better.