Current:Home > NewsPopular model sparks backlash for faking her death to bring awareness to cervical cancer -Elevate Profit Vision
Popular model sparks backlash for faking her death to bring awareness to cervical cancer
Algosensey View
Date:2025-04-07 16:55:20
A popular Indian model and actress has sparked an online backlash after revealing this weekend she had faked her death in an Instagram post as part of a cervical cancer awareness campaign.
Poonam Pandey "bravely fought the disease" and died, according to a statement published on her social media Friday, but the fake announcement was soon met with online criticism that included accusations it was a "deceptive stunt."
A flurry of obituaries from media outlets followed the original announcement and her Wikipedia page was also updated to reflect her apparent death, while Bollywood stars posted mournful tributes.
But others had expressed skepticism after noticing that footage of Pandey aboard a boat in Goa, apparently in good health, had been posted to her account four days before the announcement.
"I hope this is not a publicity stunt disguised as creating awareness for cervical cancer, which would be unethical and irresponsible, especially when dealing with sensitive issues like health awareness," one commenter wrote on Friday.
The 32-year-old later conceded to her 1.3 million followers in another video posted on Instagram that her death had been a hoax.
"Yes, I faked my demise, extreme I know. But suddenly we all are talking about cervical cancer, aren't we?" Pandey said. "I am proud of what my death news has been able to achieve."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Poonam Pandey (@poonampandeyreal)
However, many lambasted Pandey for what one commenter described as her "attention-seeking behavior."
Another wrote: "Engaging in a deceptive stunt, like faking one's death, under the guise of 'raising awareness'... is not only unethical but also manipulative.
"Honestly shame on you for this stunt. Next time no one will take your real death seriously!" they said.
Pandey seemed unfazed by the criticism, and in a subsequent Instagram post, she thanked the ad firm Schbang for working with her.
"We believe in this cause and stand by this campaign that we started working on 4 months ago with the right intentions," she wrote.
Pandey began her modelling career in 2010 and has garnered a reputation for outlandish stunts and risque behavior.
She pledged to strip for the India cricket team if they won the 2011 Cricket World Cup at home, later posting a video online of her shedding her clothes at Wankhede Stadium where the tournament's final was held.
Pandey parleyed her fame into several acting credits in Bollywood including the 2013 erotic thriller Nasha, in which she played a teacher who begins a sexual relationship with two high school students.
India accounts for nearly one-quarter of the world's cervical cancer cases, according to the World Health Organization, with more than 200 women losing their lives every day to the disease.
Health campaigners have urged the government to roll out a national HPV vaccination campaign for young girls, which in other countries has drastically cut the incidence of cervical cancer.
January was Cervical Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness about the fourth most common cancer in women.
Adults younger than 50 are being increasingly diagnosed with breast, colon and cervical cancer, according to a recent report from the American Cancer Society.
- In:
- Cancer
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Shocking video shows lightning strike near a police officer's cruiser in Illinois
- This week on Sunday Morning (July 21)
- 'He was my hero': Hundreds honor Corey Comperatore at Pennsylvania memorial service
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Bob Newhart, Elf Actor and Comedy Icon, Dead at 94
- Ralph Macchio reflects on nurturing marriage with Phyllis Fierro while filming 'Cobra Kai'
- Shelter provider accused of pervasive sexual abuse of migrant children in U.S. custody
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Obama, Pelosi and other Democrats make a fresh push for Biden to reconsider 2024 race
Ranking
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Nonprofit seeks to bridge the political divide through meaningful conversation
- Alabama set to execute convicted murderer, then skip autopsy
- Meet Crush, the rare orange lobster diverted from dinner plate to aquarium by Denver Broncos fans
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Pregnant Brittany Mahomes Details Postpartum Hair Loss Before Welcoming Baby No. 3 With Patrick Mahomes
- Lara Trump says Americans may see a different version of Donald Trump in speech tonight
- Hunter Biden seeks dismissal of tax, gun cases, citing decision to toss Trump’s classified docs case
Recommendation
Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
Over 3 million steam cleaners are under recall because they can spew hot water and cause burns
The Daily Money: Immigrants and the economy
Season 5 of 'The Boys' to be its last: What we know so far about release, cast, more
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
Map shows states where above-normal temperatures are forecast to continue this fall
Netflix’s subscriber and earnings growth gather more momentum as password-sharing crackdown pays off
Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dead at 27 After Falling 300 Feet Into Gorge