As Poonam Pandey pops up from 'dead', questions swirl on ethics of stunt
Entertainment
She said she 'faked' her death
(Web Desk) - Controversial actress-model Poonam Pandey has yet again made headlines after she said she “faked” her death to start a national conversation on cervical cancer.
In the bargain, like she always manages to do, she has left behind a trail of polarised views on social media.
When Poonam’s social media account released a statement on her having succumbed to cervical cancer at 32, the industry was left in a state of shock, while many grieved several felt it was a publicity gimmick.
Kangana Ranaut, whose show ‘Lock Upp’ gave Pandey her reality TV star status, was the first to ‘mourn’ her ‘death’.
The actress wrote on her Instagram Stories, “This is so sad. Losing a young woman to cancer is a catastrophe. Om Shanti!”
Now, after Pandey’s re-appearance, her critics are accusing her of engaging in a publicity stunt and being insensitive to the feelings of people living with cervical cancer.
They are asking if the “awareness campaign” was worth the hysteria it created among her fans and the media.
Sambhavna Seth, who featured alongside Pandey in the reality show ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’, had said her co-star “never mentioned” to her that she had cervical cancer.
Seth was left quizzical, but actress Payal Ghosh was unsparing.
She said on social media that Pandey’s tactic to get attention, even for a matter of grave concern, was “unwarranted and insensitive”.
Writing on X, Ghosh said: “Some find it funny to use such unwarranted and insensitive approach in the name of ‘so-called’ Awareness.
Poonam’s friend and designer Rohit K. Verma, who had earlier expressed his grief at her sudden ‘demise’, dropped a scathing comment on her latest video, where she is seen looking healthy dressed in a white T-shirt and appearing without makeup.
Sitharaman announced that the government will promote the vaccination of girls aged 9-14 for the prevention of cervical cancer.
