It's Controversial/ Akshay Kumar issues clarification amid controversy over surrogate Paan Masala ad

Akshay Kumar recently appeared in a Vimal Paan Masala advertisement alongside Ajay Devgn, reigniting a controversy that had previously led him to step down as the brand's ambassador. The controversy arose due to accusations of hypocrisy, as fans believed he had renounced the endorsement. In response to the online backlash, the actor issued a clarification on social media.

2 things you need to know

• After promising to disassociate from the paan masala brand, Akshay Kumar said that the endorsement fee would be contributed towards a worthy cause.
• Before him, Amitabh Bachchan was also criticised for endorsing a paan masala brand.

Akshay Kumar sets the record straight about re-appearance in Paan Masala ad

Akshay Kumar took to X (previously known as Twitter) and slammed a media portal for spreading fake news. The news portal claimed that the actor has once again become the brand ambassador of the Pan Masala brand. The Mission Raniganj star corrected the publication's headline and stated that he had not been associated with the brand since publicly announcing the discontinuation of the endorsement. He explained that the advertisement was actually filmed in 2021 and cited legal allowances to run ads filmed until the end of the following month.

‘Returns’ as ambassador? Here’s some fact check for you Bollywood Hungama, if by chance you are interested in things other than fake news. These ads were shot on 13th October, 2021. I have not had anything to do with the brand ever since I publicly announced the discontinuation…

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) October 9, 2023

Akshay Kumar donated entire endorsement fee to charity

Prior to this clarification, Akshay Kumar had offered his apologies to his fans and well-wishers. He acknowledged the impact their reactions had on him and clarified that he had not endorsed, nor would he endorse tobacco products. He also pledged to donate his entire endorsement fee to a charitable cause. While the brand continued to air the ads within the bounds of their legal contract, the actor promised to be more conscientious in his future endorsement choices and expressed gratitude for the ongoing support of his fans.