Kill, crucify or hate me but save someone: Poonam Pandey over flak

Mumbai: Bollywood actress and model Poonam Pandey, who opened a fresh controversy after announcing her death from cervical Cancer on Instagram, came up with an Insta story saying, "Kill me, crucify me, hate me, but save someone you love."

The marketing agency, which collaborated with Pandey to share her fake death, which was an awareness campaign for cervical Cancer, Schbang, came up with an apology.

"Yes, we were involved in the initiative for Poonam Pandey to spread awareness about Cervical Cancer in collaboration with Hauterfly," the agency said. "To start off, we would like to extend a heartfelt apology -- especially towards those who have been triggered as a result of having faced/having a loved one face the hardships of any kind of Cancer."

The lifestyle and entertainment portal Hauterfly aims at millennial women.

Schbang continued, "Our actions were driven by a singular mission -- to elevate awareness about Cervical Cancer. In 2022, India registered 123,907 Cervical Cancer cases and 77,348 deaths.

"After Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer is the second-most frequent malignancy affecting middle-aged women in India. Many of you may be unaware, but Poonam's own mother has bravely battled Cancer.

"Having been through the challenges of battling a disease like this at such close personal quarters, she understands the importance of prevention and the criticality of awareness, especially when a vaccine is available."

It concluded by claiming, "This is the first time in the history of this country that the words' Cervical Cancer' have appeared in 1000+ Headlines."

After Pandey came up with the post and it later came out a fake news, netizens saw it as a cheap PR stunt.

Based on IANS report