As actress-model Poonam Pandey pops up from the ‘dead’, celebs, including some of her friends, bash her on social media

Controversial actress-model Poonam Pandey has yet again made headlines after she said she ‘faked’ her death to start a national conversation on cervical cancer. In the bargain, she has left behind a trail of polarised views on social media.

Disgusting!

Actress Urvashi Dholakia wrote on Instagram, “This is the lowest advertising and marketing could stoop to! Cervical cancer is an important subject to be educated upon, but this publicity stunt was downright disgusting.”

When Poonam’s social media account released a statement on her having succumbed to cervical cancer at 32, the industry was left in a state of shock. While many grieved, several felt it was a publicity gimmick.

Now, after Pandey’s re-appearance, her critics are accusing her of engaging in a publicity stunt and being insensitive to the feelings of people living with cervical cancer. They are asking if the ‘awareness campaign’ was worth the hysteria it created among her fans and the media. Sambhavna Seth, who featured alongside Pandey in the reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi, had said her co-star ‘never mentioned’ to her that she had cervical cancer.

Actress Payal Ghosh was unsparing. She said on social media that Pandey’s tactic to get attention, even for a matter of grave concern, was ‘unwarranted and insensitive’. On X, Ghosh wrote: “Some find it funny to use such unwarranted and insensitive approach in the name of ‘so-called’ awareness. People suffering from #cervicalcancer go through living hell but some find it entitled to use it for PR! Sad state.”

Poonam’s friend and designer Rohit K Verma, who had earlier expressed his grief at her sudden ‘demise’, dropped a scathing comment on her latest video, where she is seen looking healthy, dressed in a white t-shirt and appearing without makeup.

Verma wrote: “It’s important to address cervical cancer awareness genuinely. Faking one’s death can be misleading and counterproductive. Let’s encourage more responsible methods to raise awareness and support those affected by this serious health issue.”

Pandey’s Lock Upp co-contestant Saisha Shinde said she had lost a friend. Saisha wrote: “You can never gain awareness by gaining fake sympathy. You have lost a friend forever. Shame on you Poonam.”

Former Bigg Boss contestant Sreejita De also lashed out at Pandey’s tactics. She said: “This is not creating awareness. This is simply heinous. I cannot believe someone can stoop down to this level for publicity. Shame, shame, shame! There are so many people who are actually fighting cancer. This is disgusting.”

After the spate of angry comments, Pandey shared another statement on Instagram, where she wrote she understood the news of her ‘supposed demise due to cervical cancer had taken a minute to digest’.

She also admitted that this had been perceived to be in ‘bad taste’ but she urged everyone to ‘consider the greater cause’.

She added: “The sheer lack of awareness surrounding this issue was the mere reason that compelled me to take this step.”

Pandey concluded by saying: “It’s intriguing how much vital information was in the forefront, yet failed to capture the attention of the press until the narrative took a dramatic turn with the news of my death to cervical cancer.” — IANS

Cine workers’ union demands FIR against Poonam, her manager

The All Indian Cine Workers’ Association (AICWA) on Saturday released a statement demanding an FIR against Poonam Pandey. AICWA on Saturday took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and shared a statement describing the gimmick by Poonam as ‘highly wrong’. The statement read: “The Fake PR stunt by model and actress Poonam Pandey is highly wrong. Using the guise of cervical cancer for self-promotion is not acceptable. After this news, people may hesitate to believe any death news in the Indian film industry. No one stoops to such levels for PR.” The statement further read: “Poonam Pandey’s manager had confirmed the false news, so there should be an FIR against Poonam and her manager to prevent anyone exploiting their own death news for personal gains (PR). The entire Indian film industry, along with the entire nation, paid tribute.”