The fabricated news of Poonam Pandey’s death had created a sensation. Now, the company behind this gimmick has issued a public apology. The agency claims that the intention was solely to raise awareness about cervical cancer. However, they apologize to anyone who might have been hurt by this.
Controversial actress and model Poonam Pandey has been making headlines these days, and the reason is well known. She spread false news of her death, claiming that she was promoting awareness about cervical cancer. In the midst of this, the company behind Poonam’s antics, Shbang, has issued a public apology. Along with this, they also claim that this stunt has increased discussions about cervical cancer.
The official handle of Shbang, the company behind Poonam Pandey’s fake death, has shared an apology on LinkedIn. It reads, ‘Yes, we were involved in Poonam Pandey’s initiative to spread awareness about cervical cancer through HotRofly. We sincerely apologize for initiating this. Especially to those who may have been hurt by this. We understand that our approach may have sparked debates. Though we regret any distress caused, if this step leads to increased awareness and prevention of deaths, it will have a real impact.’
This post indicates that the controversial step was aimed at spreading awareness about cervical cancer. It states, ‘Our action was a mission to increase awareness about cervical cancer. In 2022, 123,907 cases of cervical cancer were recorded in India, with 77,348 deaths. After breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second most fatal disease affecting middle-income women in India.’
The company also mentions that Poonam Pandey’s mother was battling cancer, so they understand the importance of this disease. The apology post states, ‘Many of you may not know, but Poonam’s mother fought bravely against cancer. Having seen it up close and faced the challenges of fighting such diseases in personal life, Poonam understands the significance and awareness of prevention. Especially when vaccines are available.’
The post further says, ‘People’s curiosity about cervical cancer has not changed when our honorable finance minister mentioned it during the recent central budget. We hope that this discussion, triggered by Poonam’s initiative, will not only increase awareness about cervical cancer but also act as an inspiring force for all preventable diseases.’
For this initiative, no money was taken from any client. The post emphasizes that it was a free activity and not commercially linked to any client. It addresses the skepticism around the news and clarifies that the campaign aimed to prevent cervical cancer, which can be prevented through vaccination in 93% of cases according to US CDC.
The company concludes, ‘We want to make it clear that this was a free activity and not commercially linked to any client. It is a cancer that can be prevented in 93% of cases through vaccination, and what we do is to prevent it. We hope that this conversation will serve as an inspiration not only for cervical cancer but for all life-saving awareness related to preventable diseases.’
Public Apology: Despite this, the agency has offered a sincere apology. It states, ‘Still, we want to deeply apologize to those who may have been hurt by this initiative. We understand that our methods may have sparked debates. Although we regret any distress caused, if this step leads to increased awareness and the prevention of deaths, it will have a real impact.’
Industry Sensation: It is known that on February 2, a post was shared on Poonam Pandey’s official Instagram account, claiming that Poonam had died due to cervical cancer. This news created a sensation in the industry. Everyone was in shock, and sorrow prevailed. However, some people expressed doubt about her death as there was no information available, from her dead body to the hospital, and from the family. The very next day, Poonam shared a video, revealing that she is alive and that she spread the false news of her death to raise awareness about cervical cancer.
