Kotak withdraws Tanmay Bhat advt after his old controversial tweets on child rapes, Ganesha idols go viral

NewsBharati 15-Feb-2023 14:30:54 PM

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After launching a new ad campaign featuring comedian Tanmay Bhat, Kotak Mahindra Bank withdrew its 811 campaign after his old controversial tweets went viral on social media.

Many Twitter users posted screenshots of Bhat’s old tweets. “Hi @KotakBankLtd @udaykotak. I am a customer of your bank but the fact that you have hired a hinduphobic, woman, and child abuser Tanmay Bhat for a campaign is making me consider closing my account. Discontinue the association with him and apologise?” a user wrote.

Hi @KotakBankLtd @udaykotak

I am a customer of your bank but the fact that you have hired a hinduphobic, woman and child abuser Tanmay Bhat for a campaign is making me consider closing my account. Discontinue the association with him and apologise? pic.twitter.com/W57pdic4jf
— Monica Verma (@TrulyMonica) February 12, 2023

Social media influencer and author Shefali Vaidya flagged concerns about Bhat's tweet and asked Uday Kotak if they endorse Tanmay's views. "Dear @udaykotak do you agree with Hindu hater Tanmay Bhatt’s description of Shri Ganesh Murti? Do your customers agree? @KotakBankLtd" she wrote.

Dear @udaykotak do you agree with Hindu hater Tanmay Bhatt’s description of Shri Ganesh Murti? Do your customers agree? @KotakBankLtd pic.twitter.com/WG0qxtDTm2
— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) February 11, 2023

Taking cognizance of the criticism the bank faced, Kotak811 in a tweet informed that the campaign has been withdrawn. “We, at Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. do not support or endorse the views of actors made in their personal capacity that harm or offend any individual or group. We have withdrawn the campaign,” read the tweet.

We, at Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. do not support or endorse the views of actors made in their personal capacity that harm or offend any individual or group. We have withdrawn the campaign.
— Kotak811 (@kotak811) February 12, 2023

Further, the so-called ‘comedian’ Kunal Kamra hailed fintech company Cred for continuing to work with Tanmay Bhat. However, Kamra later deleted, but by then, it was picked up by netizens. In a tweet, author Shefali Vaidya questioned why Karma deleted the tweet. She also questioned Cred for continuing its association with “pervert” and possibly “a closet paedophile” like Tanmay “who has made sick jokes about children enjoying rapes.

https://twitter.com/ShefVaidya/status/1625502849764560900

Kamra earlier expressed his disappointment as he saw no comedian defending Tanmay Bhat, who was removed from Kotak Mahindra Bank’s advertisement. He had tweeted, "I can’t believe no comedians are siding with victim Tanmay Bhatt he has faced so many atrocities in life & still counting. Sad day for the comedy world over. Shame on the Indian comedy scene."

I can’t believe no comedians are siding with victim Tanmay Bhatt he has faced so many atrocities in life & still counting. Sad day for comedy world over…
Shame on indian comedy scene https://t.co/o5CVrxe5Ui
— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) February 14, 2023