New Delhi: Two of the advertisements by Layer’r shot, an Indian perfume brand have created social media outrage throughout the nation. The brand has been criticized for promoting ‘rape culture and sexualisation. Not only the general public but also Bollywood stars have come out and severely showed their rage against the brand.
From Richa Chadha and Priyanka Chopra to Farhan Akhtar and Hrithik Roshan, the celebs have slammed the company for its insensitive content and for encouraging rape culture in society. Besides, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also responded to the public’s rage and the distasteful and atrocious ads and urged YouTube and Twitter to take down the ads from the platform.
Here’s how Bollywood celebs are reacting to the ads by the Layer’r shot perfume brand:
Hrithik Roshan took to Instagram’s story and wrote, “Shocked and appalled by the insensitivity of this commercial. How could the entire team associated with this project think this was ok to make and showcase? Kudos to the viewers for calling it out and the regulatory bodies for taking appropriate action.”
Actress Richa Chadha tweeted that is it a joke for the brand to normalise rape.
This ad is not an accident. To make an ad, a brand goes through several layers of decision making. Creatives, script, agency, client, casting… DOES EVERYONE THINK RAPE IS A JOKE? Revelatory! This brand, the agency that made this ad need to be sued for the filth they’re serving. https://t.co/M3YjbljAYN
— RichaChadha (@RichaChadha) June 4, 2022
Replying to Richa’s tweet, Priyanka Chopra wrote, “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!”
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
Farhan Akhtar also protested saying, “What incredibly tasteless and twisted minds it must take to think up, approve and create these stinking body spray ‘gang rape’ innuendo ads..!! Shameful.”
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
Swara Bhaskar tweeted, “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 (six)?”
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
Earlier, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had told that the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has found the videos in violation of its guidelines and has asked the advertisers to suspend the advertisement immediately.
