Kent RO Systems has issued an apology for an advertisement it ran across social media, in which it suggested that maids may be spreading COVID-19 by making food by hand.
The ad warned that maids' hands "may be infected", and used this as a jumping off point to promote the brand's automatic bread and atta maker. The ad featured brand ambassadors Hema Malini and Esha Deol.
Here's the original ad:
The ad, seen on Instagram, has been widely criticised on social media.
An Instagram post by @KentROSystems. As per the company, only maids can get infection, not you. An example of Spreading fear.
— pyschotic Brahmin (@thepsychbrahmin) May 26, 2020
@dreamgirlhema#KentRo @ndtv @TimesNow @timesofindia#AbsoluteBullshit pic.twitter.com/Skt26tAVMf
The company's chairman Mahesh Gupta issued a statement today (May 27) in which he said the ad had been withdrawn. The statement reads:
"Please accept our sincere apologies for having published the Ad of Kent Atta & Bread Maker. It was unintentional but wrongly communicated and it has been withdrawn. We support and respect all sections of the society."