Priyanka Chopra, amongst other notable Bollywood personalities, is all fuming over the latest ad that was making rounds on Indian televisions. The ad is about a perfume however, the innuendo it piggybacks on is of sexual assault and violence. The personalities who are speaking against it are appalled considering the context of India being the rape capital of the world. Here’s everything that’s going down with the ad:
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What Was The Ad About?
The ad shows a woman alone in a shop and four men eyeing her. They say something along the lines of, “four of us and one of the other, who will take the shot?” Then it is revealed that ‘the shot’ is actually the name of the perfume. In all of this, people are appalled at the insinuation of gang rape that is taken as a joke in this ad. Have a look at the ad:
Why is India the rape capital of the world and most unsafe country for a woman! An advert romanticizing gang rape. pic.twitter.com/jD6K3CjJeQ
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) June 4, 2022
Who Is Speaking Out?
Priyanka Chopra replied to a tweet about it saying that this was “appalling”. She questioned even the process by which this ad must have gotten the green light.
Shameful and disgusting. How many levels of clearances did it take for this commercial to be green lit. How many people thought this was ok? I’m so glad that it was called out and now the ministry has taken it down. Appalling!
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) June 4, 2022
Besides her, Richa Chadha and Swara Bhaskar also took the opportunity to openly condemn this ad and what it implies. How can this be considered a joke or be taken as a normal ad?
Shameful and disgusting. How many levels of clearances did it take for this commercial to be green lit. How many people thought this was ok? I’m so glad that it was called out and now the ministry has taken it down. Appalling!
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) June 4, 2022
A teenage girl was gang raped in Hyderabad-such incidents happen daily in India.. companies like @layerr_shot choose to make TV adverts joking abt & ‘cool-ifying’ rape & gangrape. Beyond disgusting! Not just tone deaf, also criminal! Absolutely shameful! What agency created it? https://t.co/8tRbDTfuez
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) June 4, 2022
Farhan Akhtar also spoke against the ad. Everybody is fixated on how “shameful” this ad is in the given context.
What incredibly tasteless and twisted minds it must take to think up, approve and create these stinking body spray ‘gang rape’ innuendo ads..!! Shameful.
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) June 4, 2022
What Has Been Done Since Then?
This ad was then removed from all screens and platforms actually based on certain laws in India. Since then, the brand also released a statement in which they were apologizing and said they were regretful about hurting people’s sentiments. However, the fact of the matter remains. Something so problematic can pass through all levels because those in power do not find this troubling.
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