Flipkart apologizes for ad video calling husbands ‘Aalsi, Kambakkht and Bewakoof Pati’ after criticism
Flipkart recently faced significant backlash over a controversial promotional video. The video depicted a scenario where women could order groceries and hide their bags from their husbands, which a men’s rights organization found offensive. The National Council for Men labeled the video as “man-hating,” arguing that it unfairly portrayed husbands as “Aalsi, Kambakkht, and Bewakoof Pati.” In response to the criticism, Flipkart quickly removed the video from its social media platforms.
Men’s Rights Group Speaks Out
Despite Flipkart’s action, National Council for Men shared video on X, a social media platform, to highlight their objection. They took to their account, NCMIndia Men’s Council, to express their concerns. In their post, they stated, “So @Flipkart has deleted this misogynistic post. But what is the logic behind posting such a malicious video criticizing a husband like Aalsi, Kambakkht and Bewakoof Pati?”
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Members of the men’s rights group continued to voice their displeasure with X, calling for Flipkart to apologise. They wrote, “They must apologise for this and hopefully they will not do it again. Misogyny will no longer be tolerated.”
Flipkart Responds to Backlash
In response to the backlash, Flipkart not only removed the video but also issued an apology. The company stated, “We apologize for the offensive video being posted in error and took it down as soon as we realized our mistake. We will do better in the future.”
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The men’s rights group’s post garnered significant attention, amassing 1.6 lakh views and drawing numerous comments. One user criticized the apology, saying, “They’re apologizing for posting the video, not for doing it or even thinking about it! Pakade gaye toh sorry!” Another user questioned Flipkart’s message, commenting, “How many women do you think shop with their own money? And you’re making fun of their husbands. Nice!”
In short, this incident reflects ongoing discussions about gender representation in advertising and the impact of social media backlash on corporate messaging.
