{"id":24410,"date":"2022-04-21T11:22:37","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T11:22:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/akshay-kumar-apologizes-for-endorsing-tobacco-brand\/"},"modified":"2022-04-21T11:22:37","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T11:22:37","slug":"akshay-kumar-apologizes-for-endorsing-tobacco-brand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/?p=24410","title":{"rendered":"Akshay Kumar apologizes for endorsing tobacco brand"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It is increasingly necessary for celebrities to be aware of their own influence. A single endorsement can have far reaching consequences. This was seen recently with Vimal Elaichi&#8217;s new advertisement. As soon as the Indian brand released its DVC, social media erupted with backlash directed towards their newest celebrity endorser: Akshay Kumar.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CcZL9UPBXrM\/?utm_source=ig_embed&#038;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CcZL9UPBXrM\/?utm_source=ig_embed&#038;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Vimal Elaichi (@vimalelaichi)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The advertisement features Kumar as the newest &#8220;<em>khiladi<\/em>&#8221; (player) in Vimal&#8217;s advertising campaign. While the DVC itself is only promoting Vimal&#8217;s <em>elaichi <\/em>(cardamom seeds), the brand more popularly sells <em>pan masala<\/em>, which is a form of edible tobacco.<\/p>\n<p>Both Kumar\u2019s fans and critics pointed out that he&#8217;s built an image around emphasizing the importance of health and fitness. Clips of the advertisement were shared alongside a 2018 video of Kumar vowing never to be tempted by the substantial monetary offers of tobacco brands.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ajaydevgn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@ajaydevgn<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/iamsrk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@iamsrk<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/akshaykumar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@akshaykumar<\/a> icons of bollywood &#8211; are ur kids having this product at home ? Will u promote them to use this ? Kesar ka dum , zubaa kesari , vimal elachi ? To survive u dont need to do such ads. U guys have gr8 fan base n gr8 brand value. Plz stop this \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffb <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/b4QOccN33K\">pic.twitter.com\/b4QOccN33K<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chiraag D (@cdesaai) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cdesaai\/status\/1516629526297600000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 20, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Social media users stressed that the advertisement amounts to surrogate advertising. Even though Kumar is not promoting <em>pan<\/em> <em>masala<\/em>, he is endorsing a brand which sells it.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Little disappointed with <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AkshayKumar?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#AkshayKumar<\/a> joining the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Vimal?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Vimal<\/a> Universe&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Surrogate advertising exists for a reason..<br \/>\nThey say Vimal &#8220;Elaichi&#8221; is the product, but eventually we all know, they&#8217;re selling Tobacco products, by proxy.<br \/>\nBig paycheck though.\ud83d\ude14<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/olRcItT4wp\">pic.twitter.com\/olRcItT4wp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nik_Invinci Shukriya Sidharth\ud83d\ude4f #SidHeart 4 Life\u2763\ufe0f (@DrStrangeNik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrStrangeNik\/status\/1514497147252932609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Kumar costarred in the advertisement alongside Shahrukh Khan and Ajay Devgan. While criticism did include the latter two, many pointed out that their endorsement is not as off-brand as Kumar&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Also, Akshay Kumar is considered the epitome of fitness. He is the idol for millions. He&#8217;s even associated with health and fitness companies like GoQii as a health ambassador.<br \/>\nThat&#8217;s why the huge uproar. Ajay Devgan&#8217;s been endorsing Vimal for years but no one really cares.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Neha Chamaria (@NehamsChamaria) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NehamsChamaria\/status\/1517032419286601729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 21, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Kumar finally addressed these concerns on his social media last night. The actor apologized to his fans and promised to donate the endorsement fee he has received from Vimal. He also vowed to be \u201cmore mindful\u201d in the future.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CclbEC2hPC0\/?utm_source=ig_embed&#038;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CclbEC2hPC0\/?utm_source=ig_embed&#038;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\nWhile most of Kumar\u2019s fans accepted his apology and applauded him, many still feel that his decision was questionable and hypocritical.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Mr. Akshay. No one trusts you and your lies. How will we know you have donated your Vimal elaichi endorsement money to charity. Please stop fooling Indians.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 STAND AGAINST HATRED (@Bharatbachaoab) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Bharatbachaoab\/status\/1517075036644855808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 21, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After public backlash, Indian actor Akshay Kumar apologized to fans for endorsing a brand known for selling edible tobacco.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":24411,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63,39],"tags":[1120],"class_list":["post-24410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity","category-entertainment","tag-akshayelaichikumartobaccovimal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24410\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.somethinghaute.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}