An advertisement for e-commerce platform Flipkart's Freedom Sale in a newspaper is facing heat for being \u201cself-serving, disgusting, and insensitive\u201d.<\/p>\n
The ad mimics traditional Indian newspaper obituary pages under the headline "WE AREN'T SAD AT ALL," featuring photos and notices of living people described as alive and well, with lines tying into online shopping urgency before "our deals will soon leave."<\/p>\n
Shobhaa De, a prominent journalist, brought Flipkart's ad to netizens' attention and urged consumers to boycott the e-commerce platform.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most self-serving, disgusting and insensitive ad! How dare you, @Flipkart. Shame on you !!\u201d she wrote on X, alongside a picture of the ad. \u201cHope your \u2018sale\u2019 flops and consumers boycott you!\u201d<\/p>\n
Social media users had a mixed response to Flipkart's ad \u2014 While everyone saw it as awkward or attention-seeking dark humour, some pointed out that it was not worthy of outrage, noting its creative play on the pressure to end sales.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, if it served something (self or otherwise) is fine…,\u201d a netizen said. \u201cI think this is NOT serving anything or anyone!! just a silly copy & dumb play on words with an unsavoury distraction!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s awkward and unfunny, but does not merit outrage. purely for clicks,\u201d another said.<\/p>\n
A user pointed out that they are all AI-generated images \u2014 \u201cWhat\u2019s the big deal then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt grabs attention, the images are AI, it's not very funny, I agree, but what\u2019s the harm? Who is it insensitive to? Calling for a boycott, lol, get a life!\u201d added another user.<\/p>\n
A netizen said, \u201cNothing wrong with the ad. And that it\u2019s getting so much attention and hate, means it is serving the purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, many netizens were left fuming at the \u201cvery bad analogy\u201d used by Flipkart in its promotion, even though the images were AI-generated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile promoting freedom sale, Flipkart is giving customers the option to seek freedom from them. Imagine if the owner passes away, will the company make a similar post on him with a freedom sale?\u201d a user said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUtterly despicable! Pathetic of you, Flipkart,\u201d commented a user. \u201cDespicable…even if the images are AI-generated, that's a very bad analogy… couldn't the marketing team come up with something better?\u201d another added.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch an advertisement only goes on to show the brain rot in the corporate world. Sure, there are targets to achieve, but if an industry leader's marketing team comes up with such an idea, then we are truly, pardon my French, f**ked!\u201d said a user.<\/p>\n
A netizen commented, \u201cWe should leave normal people with dignity in death. This ad is insensitive and inhuman.\u201d<\/p>\n