Worst advertisements of India - 2023 - Part 1

1. Zomato sparked widespread outrage with a contentious advertisement featuring actor Aditya Lakhia, renowned for his portrayal of the Dalit character Kachra in the film "Lagaan," Zomato depicting him as recycled waste items. Airing on World Environment Day June 5, the advertisement swiftly garnered a deluge of criticism. Following the backlash, Zomato promptly issued a public apology and removed the advertisement.

2. Kotak Mahindra's advertising campaign featuring social media influencer Tanmay Bhatia sparked a major controversy on social media. Several social media users circulated screenshots of Tanmay Bhatia's old Hinduphobic tweets. This prompted many to call for the bank to pull the plug on the campaign. Questions arose about whether the advertisement aligned with the company's brand values. Responding swiftly, the banking company withdrew the advertisement and issued a formal apology.

3. The Himalaya advertisement, aiming to promote the message that "beauty has no color," faced backlash on Twitter when users pointed out that the advertisement did not adequately represent darker-skinned women. 

Critics also questioned the frequent use of skin tone as a marketing tool, arguing that beauty should not be dependent upon skin color. 

They emphasized that all skin colors are beautiful and should be celebrated equally. Some highlighted the historical preference for fair skin, urging advertisers not to suddenly shift to celebrating darker skin without addressing underlying biases.

4. Bournvita: The NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, India) sent a letter to Mondelez India International, the manufacturer of the health drink Bournvita, urging them to conduct a thorough review and withdraw any misleading advertisements and packaging labels.

This action followed a significant controversy regarding allegations of high sugar content in the milk supplement. The controversy arose when a health influencer criticized Bournvita in a video, claiming that the powder supplement contained high levels of sugar, cocoa solids, and cancer-causing agents. The influencer later removed the video after receiving a legal notice from the company, which stated that his claims were misleading.

5. Youtube Influencers/experts: Accompanied by an image of the YouTube influencer, Rachana Ranade, an advertisement advises viewers to, "Trust only the real experts."

However, the advertisement faced criticism as netizens quickly pointed out that influencers are not necessarily "experts." It also raises concerns about certain "financial influencers" who primarily create content on tips and investments, earning money through paid collaborations. They are not strictly experts by any stretch of imagination. 

6. Bharat Matrimony's Holi advertisement stirred the ire of internet users for its portrayal of women. The advertisement depicted a woman washing Holi colors off her face to reveal bruises underneath, hinting at domestic abuse and harassment. 

"Some colors don't wash off," stated the advertisement. Needless to say, the advertisement was poorly received by various segments of society, with accusations of insensitivity and perpetuating stereotypes especially on promotion of hinduphobia.