“Our Actions Were…”: Agency Behind Poonam Panday’s Fake Death Stunt Issues Apology
The creative agency that was involved in actress Poonam Panday's fake death stunt has issued an apology.
Indian model and actress Poonam Pandey grabbed global attention after the news surfaced that she had died of cervical cancer on Friday. However, the shocking revelation came on Saturday when Poonam Pandey disclosed that her death was actually staged and aimed at raising awareness about cervical cancer in India. Following a wave of criticism from many celebrities and social media users, the creative agency responsible for the contentious campaign has issued a public apology. The agency, Schbang, admitted to have orchestrated the recent fake death stunt of Poonam Pandey.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Schbang apologised for their actions. The statement read, “Yes, we were involved in the initiative for Poonam Pandey to spread awareness about Cervical Cancer in collaboration with Hauterfly. To start off, we would like to extend a heartfelt apology – especially towards those who have been triggered as a result of having faced/having a loved one face the hardships of any kind of Cancer.”
The agency also revealed that Poonam Pandey’s mother had battled cancer and hence, she knows the impact of this disease.
Check out Schbang’s full statement here:
On February 2, Poonam Pandey’s manager announced her death due to cervical cancer on the model's official Instagram page.
“This morning is a tough one for us. Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer. Every living form that ever came in contact with her was met with pure love and kindness. In this time of grief, we would request for privacy while we remember her fondly for all that we shared,” the post read.
The post caused widespread shock and disbelief. However, a day later, Poonam Pandey shared a video, stating that the news of her death was false. She further revealed that the stunt was an attempt to spark a conversation about cervical cancer.
“I am alive. I didn't die of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives due to cervical cancer,” Poonam Pandey said in the video.
Have a look at the video below:
However, Poonam Pandey’s actions have faced severe backlash on social media. The move was criticised for being insensitive to those who have lost their loved ones to cancer. It ignited a debate on ethics for using such tactics to encourage public discourse around cancer.
