In a surprising turn of events, actor-model Poonam Pandey recently took to Instagram to debunk rumors of her demise, which had been circulating following a statement from her manager. The shocking revelation left many netizens bewildered, questioning the authenticity of the news that claimed she had succumbed to cervical cancer.
Poonam Pandey’s Revelation
Poonam Pandey, known for her bold persona, clarified in a video, “I’m alive. I didn’t die of cervical cancer.” She went on to explain that the entire episode was a unique way of raising awareness about cervical cancer, emphasizing the importance of knowledge in preventing the disease. Pandey urged her followers to take proactive measures, highlighting the significance of the HPV vaccine and early detection tests in preventing cervical cancer, a disease that, unlike some others, is entirely preventable.
Misfired campaign or cheap publicity stunt
Despite her intentions to bring attention to a critical health issue, reactions on social media were mixed. Some users criticized the move, with comments like “WORST PUBLICITY STUNT EVER!” and “Not a good marketing strategy.” In response to the backlash, Poonam Pandey released another video expressing remorse for any hurt caused, stating, “I am sorry to those whom I’ve hurt. My intention was to shock everyone into the conversation about cervical cancer.”
On the day of the initial announcement of Poonam Pandey’s supposed death, her manager had issued a statement on her Instagram account mourning her loss due to cervical cancer. The post read, “This morning is a tough one for us. Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer.” This led to widespread speculation and skepticism among followers, eventually culminating in Poonam Pandey’s revelation.
Criticisms and Backlasses
However, the aftermath of this revelation saw a wave of criticism from celebrities and social media users alike. Bigg Boss 14 contestant Aly Goni expressed his disdain, calling it a “cheap publicity stunt” and urging a boycott of Poonam Pandey and her PR team. Rahul Vaidya, who had initially questioned the news of her death, commented, “Now that Poonam is alive, I can surely say RIP PR/marketing. New low of creating a sensational/viral campaign.”
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit demanded legal action against Poonam, stating, “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.” Arti Singh, who lost her parents to cancer, called Poonam’s actions “disgusting” and accused her of spreading lies instead of awareness. Bipasha Basu joined the criticism, labeling the behavior as “beyond pathetic” and placing blame on the PR team.
Ranbir Kapoor’s sister, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, deemed it an “insensitive campaign,” while Tina Dutta expressed her dismay, calling it a “shitty PR stunt.” Sophie Choudry criticized media outlets for not verifying the news before reporting it, stating, “We all knew it was a stunt, and the fact that almost all the media houses carried the news without verifying is just ridiculous.”
Vivek Agnihotri highlighted the need for regulations in the era of social media, emphasizing the dangers of normalizing sensationalism and gimmicks. Shardul Pandit, who lost his mother to cancer, shared his disappointment in a video, expressing that while he loves Poonam Pandey, her actions were not cool. Rakhi Sawant also weighed in, questioning, “Aise kon publicity karta hai marne ka?”
The incident has ignited discussions not only about Poonam Pandey’s controversial approach to spreading awareness but also about the responsibility of influencers and media outlets in handling sensitive information. As the fallout continues, it remains to be seen whether this bold move will successfully shift the conversation towards cervical cancer awareness or if it will be remembered as a misguided stunt that backfired.
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