Akshay Kumar, in a midnight post on Wednesday, announced via Twitter that he is stepping back as the ambassador of a pan masala brand. The actor had been receiving backlash over promoting the product. Akshay apologised to his fans and promised to be "extremely mindful in making future choices."
"I am sorry. I would like to apologise to you, all my fans and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back. I have decided to contribute the entire endorsement fee towards a worthy cause. The brand might continue airing the ads till the legal duration of the contract that is binding upon me, but I promise to be extremely mindful in making my future choices. In return I shall forever continue to ask for your love and wishes," wrote Akshay.
He was seen in a new advertisement for the pan masala brand which also featured Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan. This enraged fans who claimed that the actors were promoting harmful habits. Old videos of Akshay, where he is vowing never to promote such products, also started doing the rounds on social media. The brand uses surrogate advertising to sell products such as 'gutka'.
Earlier on Wednesday, Goa BJP's medical cell convenor, Shekhar Salkar, had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strip actors Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, and Shah Rukh Khan of their Padma awards for featuring in surrogate advertisements promoting tobacco products.
"I have no words to condemn the way Akshay Kumar has joined the gang of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Ajay Devgan to promote cancer through a surrogate advt of tobacco product. Ironically, all these people are Padma award winners," Salkar tweeted.
After Akshay's apology note, however, Salkar thanked the Toilet Ek Prem Katha actor for withdrawing his association.
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