A day after actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan claimed that the image of a jewellery ad featuring her was changed without her prior knowledge; Kalyan Jewellers have decided to withdraw the ‘racist’ print ad from their campaign. The advertisement for Kalyan Jewellers appeared in a newspaper on April 17 and shows Aishwarya reclining under a parasol held over her head by what the letter describes as ‘a dark-skinned slave-boy.’ The 41-year-old actress is a brand ambassador for Kalyan Jewellers.
Kalyan Jeweller’s statement posted on Facebook: “With regard to the item Open letter to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: This ad you figure in is insidiously racist, the creative was intended to present the royalty, timeless beauty and elegance. However, if we have inadvertently hurt the sentiments of any individual or organization, we deeply regret the same. We have started the process of withdrawing this creative from our campaign.”
The idea for the ad taken was from the below 17th and 18th century European portraits.
17th and 18th Century European Portrait
Aishwarya’s publicists responded to this open letter on her behalf by sharing the original picture of her shoot and stating that the actress had no information about how the image will be used by the brand’s advertisers.
Here is the Original picture of Aishwarya Rai from the set of the shooting. What is done with it in POST is not in the artist/model’s hand.
In a statement on behalf of the actress, her publicist suggested that Aishwarya was not involved in the final image that appeared in the newspaper. The statement, accompanied by the photo above, was addressed to the authors of the open letter and read: “On the onset we would like to thank you on drawing our attention to the observation of the perception of the advertisement. Here is an attachment of the shot taken by somebody during the shoot. The final layout of the ad is entirely the prerogative of the creative team for a brand. However shall forward your article as a viewpoint that can be taken into consideration by the creative team of professional working on the brand visual communication.”
If the Kalyan jewellers ad is indeed racist and dark skin-prejudiced, why is no one asking Hindustan Lever and Fair & Lovely and other products like Fair & Handsome, Ponds — which create ads set in today’s time and age, hawked by today’s superstars, telling people that we’ll all be married and rich if only we were fairer — to withdraw their products and their ads? Where were they when the Happy Dent ad which revolves around a retinue of servants set in the 1950s-60s was being aired?
Below are links for above ads:
Ponds:
Don’t forget guys, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is an ambassador and supporter of many Charitable Trust and Foundations. How can you blame her for being racist, she is a pure supporter for Animals, Children, Health and Women.
She is associated with below Charitable Trusts and Foundations:
Aishwarya Rai Foundation – https://www.looktothestars.org/charity/aishwarya-rai-foundation
Eye Bank Association of India – http://www.ebai.org/
PETA – https://www.looktothestars.org/charity/peta
Smile Train – http://www.smiletrain.org/newsroom/Aishwarya-Rai-Bachchan-Celebrates-20th-Anniversary.html
If you know what all social help and support Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has given to less fortunate, you wouldn’t write these dumb open letters.
It’s my humble request to stop blaming Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for being racist. Please try to understand that even she is a human and capable of error.
Leave your comments and thoughts below.
Thanks!
