Forgive Pierce Brosnan for the man didn’t even know what he was selling. Yes, this is what Brosnan has now said following the wave of controversy generated by his sponsoring of Pan Bahar.
The shock apart, Brosnan told People.com that he was distressed by the Pan Bahar makers making “unauthorized and deceptive use of my image to endorse their range of pan masala products”
Stressing that he has the “greatest love and affection for India and its people”, Brosnan said that the contract he signed with Pan Bahar was for advertising a “breath freshener/tooth whitener” which does not include tobacco, supari or other harmful ingredients.
“I would never have entered into an agreement to promote a product in India that is dangerous to one’s health,” the James Bond star said in a statement while claiming that he had no knowledge of what he was selling.
“Having endured, in my own personal life, the loss of my first wife and daughter as well as numerous friends to cancer, I am fully committed to supporting women’s healthcare and research programs that improve human health and alleviate suffering,” the statement continued.
Brosnan further stated that he was to advertise for just one product but Pan Bahar manufacturers led the media in India to believe that he was a brand ambassador for all the products “in violation” of the contract.
Issuing his “sincerest and heartfelt apologies” to those offended by him promoting a cancer-causing product, Brosnan demanded that Pan Bahar removes his image from all their products.
The full-page front page advertisement across leading newspapers of the country and an audio-visual version of the same became one of the top trending topics on social media in India. Though many found it funny that a suave star such as Brosnan was promoting Pan Bahar, some also took offence that a cancer-causing product was being promoted by a Hollywood star in India.
