Akshay Kumar apologised to his fans for signing an ad deal with a tobacco brand after facing backlash from many of his fans on social media and pledged to donate his fee for the ad to a ‘worthy cause’. Akshay was made the face of Vimal Elaichi after Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn. All three had featured in an ad together, which was released earlier this month.
In his apology, Akshay wrote, “I am sorry. I would like to apologise to you, all my fans and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back. I have decided to contribute the entire endorsement fee towards a worthy cause. The brand might continue airing the ads till the legal duration of the contract that is binding upon me, but I promise to be extremely mindful in making my future choices. In return I shall forever continue to ask for your love and wishes."
Fans were happy that the actor accepted his mistake and made a public acknowledgement, however a section of the netizens are trolling him for not cancelling the contract and restricting the brand from airing the ad.
A fan wrote, “Why don't u cancel the contract and ask the brand to stop airing the ads ... Why are u afraid to pay the damage suit charges ? Baap bada na bhaiya, Sabse Bada Rupaiya ?”
Another fan commented, “He was just doing this to save his so called image. 1. Why can't he altogether remove himself from the ad campaign. Is it more worth than the lives of people, who get addicted to tobacco watching his ad. 2. Also, he is not specific about the worthy cause.”
“Not everyone has the guts to say sorry so this post needs to be appreciated but the damage is already done. moreover, still unsure what led you to do this? and don't agree when you say you didn't endorse tobacco while it's not hard to understand what is surrogate advertising?,” another user said.
“Akshay ji, if u really realise and feeling sorry, then u must return the all the endorsement fee u accepted and legally bind the company to stop airing the add.. here money is not imp, but stopping of the advertisementof tobacco product is important. Return the fee to vimal & stop ad,” commented a user.
Recently, megastar Amitabh Bachchan had also stepped back from a Pan Masala brand deal after public backlash.