Union Minister Smriti Irani has been urged to make a quick intervention and act against the makers of a body spray after a TV commercial promoting the brand was deemed to be offensive and promote the rape culture.
In a TV ad broadcast on TEN Sports TV channel, a group of boys are seen forcibly entering a room where a young couple is seated on the bed. One of the boys asks, “Hey bro, it seems you’ve had your shot.” The boy seated next to the girl, replies, “Yes, I had (my shot).”
This prompts the boy to announce that it was his turn next. The girl reacts in fear and surprise as two boys have the conversation about ‘shots’ and their turns.
Also Read: Woman’s allegedly raped, murdered in Uttar Pradesh on first day at work in nursing home
The camera moves to a table where the body spray ‘shot’ is kept and it emerges that the boy, who had forcibly entered the room, was referring to the body spray and not forced sex.
However, the ad left a poor taste amongst netizens. One user tagged Union Minister Smriti Irani on Twitter, urging her take action.
क्या वाक़ई ये विज्ञापन सामान्य है ?
अगर नहीं तो संज्ञान लीजिए @smritiirani @NCPCR_ @sharmarekha @SwatiJaiHind pic.twitter.com/1AXUrRDAH0— Anurag Dixit (@anuragdixit2005) June 3, 2022
Similar reactions came from other Twitter users, who also found the ad in poor taste.
ऐसे समय में जब महिलाओं के खिलाफ अपराध, बलात्कार जैसे मामलों में रिकार्ड वृद्धि हो रही है तब इस तरह के असंवेदनशील और आक्रामक विज्ञापन महिलाओं की सुरक्षा के लिए नया खतरा हैं…सरकार को संज्ञान लेना चाहिए… https://t.co/fOTkWFFFsr
— LP Pant (@pantlp) June 3, 2022
It should have been in the advertisement to the owner of the company and his wife https://t.co/AtAVH0ZLzu
— @મન❤Max (@maxpate05749415) June 3, 2022
बेहद आपत्तिजनक विज्ञापन है . https://t.co/47TLcOFcS7
— Ajit Anjum (@ajitanjum) June 3, 2022
Rape has become a growing menace in India and corporate brands are expected to use their money power to raise awareness against this social malaise. Instead, one such brand has now resorted to promote violence against women.