Actress and model Poonam Pandey, currently facing online criticism for staging her death to raise awareness about cervical cancer, has released a statement addressing the negative feedback.
She emphasized that her intention was not for publicity, stating that she doesn't seek it. According to her, the elaborate act was carried out for a "good cause."
Taking to her Instagram, Poonam Pandey shared a video defending her decision to simulate her death as a means to spark conversations about cervical cancer. She clarified that her actions were not meant to be insensitive, drawing on personal experience of witnessing her mother battle throat cancer.
In the video, she explained, "For those who think I’m being insensitive, I would like to tell you, my mother suffered cancer. She had throat cancer, and I have seen this in my house how bad it gets." She highlighted the preventable nature of cervical cancer and emphasized that none of the involved parties were financially compensated for their participation.
Poonam Pandey asserted that the initiative was driven by a genuine desire to raise awareness, with no involvement from pharmaceutical companies. "We did this to raise awareness, and it has," she stated. "A lot of people, who had no idea of cervical cancer, are Googling it now, and it is trending right now."
Addressing the backlash, she reiterated her lack of interest in publicity and acknowledged the anticipated criticism. Poonam Pandey expressed, "I knew very well that I would face this kind of backlash, apart from knowing that I did this because I did it for a good cause."
She further mentioned, "The moment you got to know that I’m alive, you guys are now targeting me for doing something for a good cause." Poonam Pandey stressed that if everyone talked about cervical cancer, she wouldn't need to resort to such measures, affirming that her PR was not involved in the initiative.
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