A couple of days ago, a renowned brand Kent issued an advertisement for a dough kneading machine. However, due to the tagline used, social media users slammed Hema Malini, who is the brand ambassador, for being a 'classist'. It happened so that the advertisement asked the audience, "Are you allowing your maid to knead atta dough by hand?". In the second part, it was stated that "Her hands may be infected" referring to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Asking people to not compromise on health and purity, they wrote, "Choose KENT Atta & Bread Maker for hands-free kneading of dough. Let automation take care of hygiene this time!"
After facing the wrath of social media users, the company pulled down the advertisement and issued an apology for unintentionally hurting a section of the society. "Please accept our sincere apologies for having published the Ad of Kent Atta & Bread Maker. It was unintentional but wrongly communicated and it has been withdrawn. We support and respect all sections of the society," Kent wrote on their official Twitter handle.
Hi #Kent @KentROSystems, what casteist classist bullshit is this?? You should be ashamed of yourself for putting this ad out. pic.twitter.com/fwJRslPuS4
— Japleen Pasricha (@japna_p) May 26, 2020
Please accept our sincere apologies for having published the Ad of Kent Atta & Bread Maker. It was unintentional but wrongly communicated and it has been withdrawn. We support and respect all sections of the society.
Mahesh Gupta, Chairman
— Kent RO (@KentROSystems) May 27, 2020
Soon after, Hema, who has been a longterm brand ambassador, put forth her opinion on Twitter. The veteran actress, in response to the advertisement, said that it didn't resonate with her value and called it inappropriate. She stated that she respects and stands by all sections of society. "Views expressed by the recent advertisement of Kent Atta by @KentROSystems do not resonate with my values and are inappropriate. The chairman has already tendered a public apology for the mistake. I hereby wish to put on record that I respect and stand by all sections of society," Hema tweeted.
Views expressed by the recent advertisement of Kent Atta by @KentROSystems do not resonate with my values and are inappropriate, The Chairman has already tendered a public apology for the mistake.I hereby wish to put on record that I respect and stand by all sections of society. pic.twitter.com/i6tY3hJdt8
— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) May 27, 2020
(Source: Twitter)
