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Actor Poonam Pandey faking her death to spread awareness around cervical cancer has received backlash on social media. Several celebrities from the entertainment industry have called it a ‘cheap’ and ‘distasteful’ marketing strategy. Filmmakers and actors like Ektaa R Kapoor, Ridhi Dogra, Prince Narula, Kushal Tandon, and many others have condemned her move.
Ashoke Pandit, President of the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association, even posted a video message, demanding legal action against Pandey for spreading fake news and mocking the sentiments of those who are a victim of Cervical Cancer.
He wrote in the caption, “I condemn the fake news spread by an actress about her death due to cervical cancer. She has insulted the medical fraternity, the patients and Govt. officials who are religiously fighting this dreaded disease. She has mocked the emotions of the common man who expressed their condolences. Serious action should be taken by the law enforcing agencies against her and her colleagues who were a part of this ‘campaign’ so that it’s not repeated again. Nobody has the right to play with the honesty and dignity of people’s emotions.”
TV and film producer Ektaa Kapoor also expressed her displeasure on the campaign and wrote on Instagram, “Let’s all take a pledge to not use the company that has used this campaign to sell their vaccine.”
Actor Riddhi Dogra penned a long note on social media, calling Pandey’s way of spreading awareness ‘pathetic’. She wrote, “Faking death for awareness may seem like a winning idea for those who came up with it!!! But it’s pathetic and disgusting to share it as news. Without fact-checking or any research, absolutely irresponsible. It’s just wrong. And scary that people will lap up anything you sell them in the name of breaking news because they trust you with the information coming from you. But now wait for the apologies from your ‘all the sources you think are your centre point for the latest and correct news.”
Several other celebrities like Sherlyn Chopra, Prince Narula, Kushal Tandon, and Rahul Vaidya, also shared their opinion. Prince released a video on Instagram where he said, “For me, this was not right. I am ashamed that some people in our industry have to do this for publicity. You have hurt many people and I am one of them. I feel I have wasted my entire day yesterday. I was so sad, I talked to my wife also. I even wished I had met you more. But this is really sad.”
Uorfi Javed also took a dig at Poonam Pandey’s marketing gimmick as she shared a photo of herself on social media and captioned it, “Hi guys I’m not dead , just spreading awareness about hangovers . When you’re drinking , you feel so alive , the next day , you feel dead 💀 but you don’t really die. Sorry the dead ain’t reading.”
On Friday, a post on Poonam’s social media account announced that the actor had passed away due to cervical cancer. The narrative was supported by her team, who confirmed the actor’s demise.
However, a day later, Poonam posted a video claiming that she faked her death for the larger good of spreading awareness about the fatal disease and talking about the vaccine, which prevents it.
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