After facing severe backlash for featuring in advertisements for Pan Bahar’s pan masala, James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has said that he was misled into thinking the product was a mouth freshener. The 63-year-old actor, who says he is “deeply shocked and saddened” at the “unauthorized” use of his image for the advertisement, has demanded that the company remove his image from all their products and endorsements. In response, Pan Bahar has said that their product contains no tobacco.
In a statement to People magazine, the actor said that his contract had specified an advertisement for a “breath freshener/tooth whitener”.
“As a man who has spent decades championing women’s healthcare and environmental protection, I was distressed to learn of Pan Bahar’s unauthorized and deceptive use of my image to endorse their range of pan masala products. Having endured, in my own personal life, the loss of my first wife and daughter as well as numerous friends to cancer, I am fully committed to supporting women’s healthcare and research programs that improve human health and alleviate suffering,” the statement said.
Brosnan was questioned by many on social media about his endorsement for precisely this reason. The 007 star lost his first wife and daughter to cancer.
The Pan Bahar print advertisements depict Brosnan holding a tin of the pan masala. The television advertisements show him fighting men, flirting with women, and performing stunts, ostensibly powered by Pan Bahar.
Brosnan’s clarification has fueled more commentary on Twitter.
Pierce Brosnan thought Pan Bahaar was a tooth whitener ??
Shows how effective the British Secret Service is !
— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) October 21, 2016
“Pan Bahar’s a tooth whitener”
Pierce Brosnan: “Okay”
A D V E R T I S E M E N T*points to an electricity pole* “…and that’s the Qutub Minar”
Pierce: “Beautiful”
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) October 21, 2016
Meanwhile, Pan Bahar issued a statement today saying, “The advertisement was made as per the contract between Pierce Brosnan and the company, following all the formalities. Everything was done as per the contract. The product is 0% tobacco. It is a mouth freshener and there is no trace of any tobacco in the product. Hence the advertisement was made as per the law.”
Feature Image Courtesy : News18.com
