Social media erupted in controversy after an Instagram post claimed that Indian actress Poonam Pandey had died from cervical cancer, only for her to reveal in a subsequent video that it was part of a campaign to raise awareness about the disease.
The post from Pandey’s official account stated she had “bravely fought the disease” and passed away, leading to widespread tributes and media reports of her death.
Pandey, known for her controversial online presence, clarified in a video that she had faked her death as part of the campaign, noting, “Suddenly we all are talking about cervical cancer, aren’t we?”
She expressed pride in what the news of her “death” had achieved in terms of raising awareness.
The campaign sparked a debate on the ethical implications of such publicity stunts. While some praised it for drawing attention to cervical cancer, many criticized it as insensitive to those affected by cancer.
One user remarked, “Death is not a joke,” while another, who had lost a parent to cancer, found the campaign distressing.
Criticism extended to the media for reporting on Pandey’s death without verification, with one user lamenting the lack of fact-checking.
The agency behind the campaign, Schbang, issued an apology to those triggered by it, emphasizing their aim to raise awareness about cervical cancer and citing Pandey’s personal connection to the cause.
The incident prompted questions about whether effectiveness should outweigh ethics in creating viral campaigns, with some questioning who is responsible for setting such standards – advertisers, the media, or viewers.
Source-BBC
