Why #BoycottHyundai is trending in India and 5 times brands faced similar heat online
Indian Twitter is furious with South Korean automaker Hyundai and has called for its boycott. Indian Twitterati, condemning the brand, have pledged to switch their automobile preferences to its competitors Tata and Mahindra.
Hyundai may support terrorism.But Tata will fight it.Choose the car legends choose?#BoycottHyundai pic.twitter.com/fFYqGNYkWo pic.twitter.com/oLRCSXS6wM
— Arunesh mishra (@A1ark) February 7, 2022
BUT WHY IS INDIAN TWITTER ENRAGED?
India’s second-most popular automaker is facing the boycott heat over a few controversial social media posts it made through its official Pakistan handle, Pakistan Hyundai.
Pakistan Hyundai branch posted on Twitter, "Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they continue to struggle for freedom."
This post was made on ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’; a day observed in Pakistan on February 5 each year to support Kashmir’s secession from India.
Posts related to ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ were also made on other social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.
This has not gone down well with Indian netizens who rapped the South Korean company for making undiplomatic political statements about an internationally disputed region; not at all when it has businesses in both India and Pakistan, with the former market being the larger of the two.
Hyundai supports TERRORISMHyundai supports stone peltersHyundai supports terror state Pak Hyundai is against sovereignty of our nation.Hyundai is Anti-IndiaRetweet if you agree #BoycottHyundai @Hyundai_Global @HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/OGagzS3gbd
— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) February 7, 2022
Cars Sold by Hyundai Motors in 2021India - 505,000 Pakistan - 8000 Yet @Hyundai_Global chose to needle India via its Pakistani Handle. Either they are very stupid and lack business sense or they have hired a very incompetent PR team which led to #BoycottHyundai disaster pic.twitter.com/jProIRNqYi
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 6, 2022
Netizens were triggered further when Hyundai India started blocking a few Indian Twitter users. Moreover, following the backlash, Hyundai’s Pakistan Twitter handle was made private.
Hey @HyundaiIndia!You are a gone case now#BoycottHyundai pic.twitter.com/oo9WnjrKFx
— Prasad Reddy Saragada H V D (@SHVDPrasadReddy) February 7, 2022
Meanwhile, Hyundai India ended up worsening matters with its apology that many claimed was 'lame' and 'half-hearted'.
Official Statement from Hyundai Motor India Ltd.#Hyundai #HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/dDsdFXbaOd
— Hyundai India (@HyundaiIndia) February 6, 2022
Hyundai is by far not the only brand in India to have faced the rage of Indian social media over the years over their promotions and advertisements. Indian and foreign brands alike have come under fire for promotions that were regarded as offensive by the Indian masses or a section of people. While in some cases the outrage was not required, in other cases, it was genuine.
Here are 5 times brands got cancelled in India for their promotions:
1. TANISHQ INTER-FAITH MARRIAGE AD
In 2020, popular jewellery brand Tanishq was forced to withdraw an advertisement portraying an inter-faith Hindu-Muslim marriage. A section of Indian Twitter users expressed their ire against the advertisement that they claimed promoted ‘love jihad’.
What’s interesting about the Tanishq boycott call then and the Hyundai boycott call now, is that the jewellery brand is part of Tata conglomerate. Back in 2020, Tata was facing the boycott; but now, the same company is being held in respect in the face of the 'Boycott Hyundai' call.
2. SABYASACHI MANGALSUTRA AD
The luxury designer brand Sabyasachi had launched an ad campaign for its ‘Royal Bengal Mangalsutra 1.2’ collection. The advertisement featuring a voluptuous woman in lingerie, wearing a Sabyasachi mangalsutra while laying her head on a bare-chested man, proved too much to handle for some Indian netizens, including Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who called it an insult to Hindu tradition.
After Fabindia and Dabur, now Sabyasachi faces backlash over its Mangalsutra ad campaign #ITVideo pic.twitter.com/Ssb5MZiZUI
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) October 29, 2021
Sabyasachi pulled the ad following the backlash.
3. DABUR FEM LESBIAN COUPLE AD
Dabur’s advertisement for its product Fem Crème bleach showing a lesbian couple celebrating Karva Chauth hit on Indian netizens' nerves wrongly, who called for an apology for showing what they called objectionable content.
This time too, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra gave the brand an ultimatum. And ultimately, the brand had to withdraw the advertisement.
It’s a disappointment that these ads were forced to withdraw following social pressure, even though their ads were very much promoting inclusivity and empowerment. But there are also some ads that faced criticism for genuine reasons.
4. KENT RO AD
What a perfect example of brand humility and swiftness to correct a blunder ?KENT RO atta maker ad was an attack to the maids piggy backing on the sentiment of current crisis of COVID19.But the apology within 24 hours and withdrawal of the campaign was even more exemplary!! pic.twitter.com/0PDvLK5ITt
— Varija Bajaj (@varijabajaj) May 27, 2020
Kent RO’s advertisement depicting house helps as ‘infection carriers’ in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 was criticised for being insensitive, discriminating and classist. Following social media backlash, the company was forced to pull the controversial advertisement.
5. ZOMATO’S MC BC AD
So the PR bandwagon of Zomato's new outdoor campaign is rolling. Expectedly, it ignores the outrage against its MC BC creative.And we wonder about why sexism is alive and kicking. So much for apparently being a category *leader*. pic.twitter.com/XlGsLBsVOT
— Ashok Lalla (@ashoklalla) November 30, 2017
Zomato’s cheeky billboard advertisement playing with Hindi profanities – MC and BC – and replacing them with ‘mac n’ cheese’ and ‘butter chicken’, did not go down well with many Indians. The profanities are largely understood to be misogynistic.
After social media backlash, the online food delivery company was forced to withdraw the advertisements.