A hospital in Kerala was recently under scrutiny for using a photo of American actor?Morgan Freeman?in a skin treatment advertisement. Social media users took no time in slamming the hospital for running an advert that was 'racist' to the core.? ?
Racism remains a grave social evil our world is still dealing with. From the west to India, no one is free from the atrocities inflicted on people by racists, and it is high time that we shut it down.?
According to reports, the Vadakara cooperative hospital received backlash when photos of their ad began circulating on social media. Pictures of the now-removed poster show the hospital using a photo of the 84-year-old veteran Hollywood actor to advertise services such as removal of skin tags, warts, milia, among other things.
"Sir Morgan Freeman, your picture is used as a poster at a dermatology department advt board in hospital in Kerala, India. Using your picture as sample, they are claiming to make everyone free from dark tan, wrinkles, pigments,"?wrote Rejimon Kuttappan on Twitter.
Film critic GP Ramachandran wrote: "Vadakara 'Co-operative' Hospital is a disgrace and an insult to the great co-operative sector in Kerala."?
Sree Parvathy, an author by profession, listed the legendary actor's extensive filmography to introduce him to the uninitiated.?
"Those who lifted the picture of Morgan from the internet failed to identify the Oscar winning actor and went by his skin colour, the rashes on his face and his African-American heritage," she wrote.?
After the receiving flak, the Vadakara cooperative hospital apologised for the racist advert, and pulled it down.?
"The picture was taken from the internet and the board displayed near the casualty on January 26 (Wednesday). When we came to know about the gaffe, it was removed on Saturday," T Sunil, the marketing manager of the hospital, told?The New Indian Express.?
"The hospital has issued an apology on its Facebook page. There was no intention to defame the great actor," he added.??
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