Netizens call deo ad promoting gangrape joke pathetic & appalling

CHENNAI: Two advertisements by a deodorant brand have been facing severe backlash by netizens and government officials as it promotes gang rape jokes.

One of the ad shows a couple sitting on a bed when four more boys enter the room. One boy asks, "Shot mara lagta hai!" (Looks like you've hit the shot) and the boy sitting on the bed says, "Ha, mara na" (Yes, I have). Another boy among the four says "Ab hamari bari" (Now, it's our turn) and moves toward the girl. Following this, the girl appears to be shocked and uncomfortable with the series of events. Thereafter, the boy picks up a bottle of body spray and the girl looks visibly relieved as she just got saved from getting gang raped!

In another advertisement of the same brand, four boys are seen stalking a girl in a grocery store. They have a conversation while standing right behind her, "Hum char, aur ye ek! Shot kaun lega!" ( We are four and shot is one. Who will take it). It is shown in the advertisement that the conversation between the boys scares the girl. Again, similarly, the boy then picks up a bottle of the body spray and the girl heaves a huge sigh of relief.

The misogynistic ad has come under severe criticism by netizens.

Swathi Jagadish , famously known as 'Maya's Amma', who has strived to educate people on sexuality, health, and women's wellness, particularly on sex education, shared her reaction on Instagram story. "A rape joke becomes an ad and big TV channels and advertising agencies normalising it...Pathetic..,” she wrote.

Sruti Nakul, a TV host and baker, who has been vocal about women’s rights, shared her view and wrote, "No seriously? The amount of scrutiny that goes through brand videos just on Instagram and not a single person who was involved in this horrible, triggering AD never thought how bloddy problematic is it to even make such a horrific AD. let alone air it on national television????!!!!! I'm literally questioning every single person involved in the making of this. From the "idea" stage to the actors involved to the people involved in shooting, pre & post production to the channel people who thought this is normal or even remotely funny?????!!!!!! Appalling behaviour !!!!!!!”

“The ads of #layershot are disturbing in many ways. In every ad there are certain group of guys that ask who will take shot. Clearly promoting the idea of gang rape. PS- More shameful thing I see many guys on TL clearly supporting such sick ideas that's even more #Shameful’” wrote a Twitter user.

Check other reactions too:

#LayerShot new ad is grossly cheap.

— Indianguts (@Indianguts) June 2, 2022

What the hell is that Layer'r Shot ad!! What were these guys smoking when they pitched the idea and it even got approved?! A whole team shot the video and no one thought this could go south?? #BadAds #layershot

— Krishnamurthi (@murthism) June 4, 2022

In case you wonder @layerr_shot care any bit from recent controversy. Here comes another disgusting advertisement #layershot pic.twitter.com/TmRX1PxCav

— Khalibali (@PRADEEP68400130) June 4, 2022

Can't find the ad online but here it is, apparently being played during the match. I didn't see it till @hitchwriter showed it to me

Who are the people making these ads really? pic.twitter.com/zhXEaMqR3Q

— Permanently Exhausted Pigeon (@monikamanchanda) June 3, 2022

This advertisement #layershot is so regressive and highly reprehensible. Don't understand how harrasment is used in light manner to advertise. #shame

— Samim (@rexrohann) June 4, 2022

#layershot wthman? Promoting women harassment , bully culture rape culture promotion#women #ENGvsNZ

— Secular Keeda (@secular_insect) June 2, 2022

How does this kind of ads get approved, sick and outright disgusting. Is @layerr_shot full of perverts? Second ad with such disgusting content from Shot.@monikamanchanda pic.twitter.com/hMEaJZcdmR

— Rishita💝 (@RishitaPrusty_) June 3, 2022