(DailyAnswer.org) – Bollywood actress and model Poonam Pandey has ignited controversy by faking her death in an announcement posted on her Instagram page on January 26, 2024. 1.3 million followers were told in the post that Pandey had died from cervical cancer. The model’s management team shared the news with media outlets as she received tributes on social media from colleagues and cast members. According to the World Health Organization, India accounts for almost a quarter of the world’s cervical cancer cases, which is the fourth most common cancer among women.
Pandey claimed that faking her death was justified because it was done to raise awareness of cervical cancer. Saying that she was proud of what could be achieved with “death news,” the model claimed that though the ruse was extreme, people were “suddenly” discussing cervical cancer as a result. Pandey’s manager, Nikita Sharma, said that it was a critical time to raise awareness of cervical cancer, which is preventable.
No stranger to public controversy, the 32-year-old reality TV star previously rose to fame in 2011 when she vowed to strip for the Indian cricket team if they won the World Cup, but the cricket board did not give her permission. Pandey was also detained by Goa police in 2020 for an obscene photoshoot. The model has urged her followers to “bring #DeathToCervicalCancer.”
Pandey’s fake cancer death has stirred up an ethical debate around what many consider a tasteless publicity stunt; several on social media commented that it was insensitive towards those suffering from the disease, one on X saying that death is not a joke and another stating that their father had died from cancer and that the so-called campaign was distressing and brought back uncomfortable memories.
Another X user said that though Pandey may have come back to life, the same could not be said for the Indian media. The model’s mother has also battled cancer; however, she is said to have supported her daughter’s campaign to raise awareness. As India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans to vaccinate girls aged 9-14, several on social media were quick to notice the timing of Pandey’s post and suggest it was part of the government’s campaign.
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