The whole controversy started when the HUL posted a video on their Twitter page, setting against the backdrop of the crowded Kumbh Mela.
Hindustan Unilever recently drawn negative attention over a tweet related to Kumbh Mela, leading it to calls for boycott on Twitter. HUL is a parent firm for products like Surf Excel, Lux, Kwality Walls, Fair and Lovely, Vaseline among others.
The whole controversy started when the HUL posted a video on their Twitter page, setting against the backdrop of the crowded Kumbh Mela. The video depicted that a young man abandoning his elderly father in the crowded gathering. The man then walks away, despite his father calling out to him.
.@RedLabelChai encourages us to hold the hands of those who made us who we are. Watch the heart-warming video #ApnoKoApnao pic.twitter.com/P3mZCsltmt
— Hindustan Unilever (@HUL_News) March 7, 2019
The video in question, further shows that after walking away, and witnessing another man tie his young son to him to prevent him from getting lost, the son finally realized that what he is doing his wrong and rushes back to find his father, where the elderly man is waiting for his son with cups of Red Label Tea.
The entire message has irked the Twitterati, alleging that the company is depicting a negative image of the Kumbh Mela.
The original caption for the video posted HUL's Twitter handle said, "Kumbh Mela is a place where old people get abandoned, isn't it sad that we do not care for our elders? Watch an heartwarming video, an eye-opener to harsh reality." However, after the negative response, the company has taken down its tweet.
Below we have posted the reactions of some of the Twitter users:
1. Ramdev alleges HUL of using emotions as commodity
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From East India Co to @HUL_News that’s their true character. Their only agenda is to make the country poor economically & ideologically. Why shld we not boycott them? For them everything, every emotion is just a commodity. For us parents are next to Gods #BoycottHindustanUnilever https://t.co/suozbymLBI
— Swami Ramdev (@yogrishiramdev) March 7, 2019
2. Calls for boycott
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Dear @PaulPolman I and many have decided to boycott Unilever products after this distasteful advertisement by @HUL_News... Defaming Hinduism in the name of social awanessness will not be tolerated anymore. Ahimsa Satyagrah 2 #BoycottHindustanUnilever #BoycottHULProducts pic.twitter.com/37rwDJwEoh
— नंदिता ठाकुर (@nanditathhakur) March 7, 2019
3. #BoycottHindustanUnilever becomes top trend on Twitter
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When a video to create marketing stuff by connecting a local event (#KumbhMela) gone wrong for @HUL_News #FailedPR #MarketingBackFired #BoycottHindustanUnilever pic.twitter.com/jrQZNwmaUM
— Shahid Abbasi (@ShahidAbbasiPak) March 7, 2019
