Aishwarya’s Kalyan Ad “Racist”?

Following the online furor over the “racist” advertisement featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with a child, the jewelry company has now decided to withdraw the campaign.

The 41-year-old actress, who is the national brand ambassador for Kalyan Jewellers, had faced the wrath of activists after the print advertisement was published in a leading daily.

An open letter addressed to the former beauty queen slammed her involvement in the ad, which it alleged also promoted child labor. It prompted Bachchan to release a statement saying the creative team for the brand was responsible for the change.

The ad, which reflects 17th century European paintings of noblewomen with their child servants, is extremely objectionable, say a group of activists. Many people on Twitter too have strongly reacted to the ad and denounced the idea of promoting ideas pointing to slavery and racism.

The company has now apologized for hurting the sentiments of people and has begun the process to withdraw the campaign.