An advertisement by travel portal MakeMyTrip targeting Pakistani fans has taken the internet by storm, BUT, for all the wrong reasons.
The ad, an ‘Open invitation to Pakistani fans’, released ahead of the big clash between arch-rivals sparked an online backlash for its perceived insensitivity.
The advertisement reads “Dear neighbours, let’s take a moment and forget our rivalries. After all, it’s not every day that you visit us. Hope you don’t mind us playing a good host. It’s going to be a big day today. So, staying true to the Indian tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, we want to extend some heartfelt offers to you.”
As per an Indian Express report, the ad offers discounts tied to Pakistan's performance, drawing criticism for being in poor taste.
Several social media users slammed the company over the advert, with one saying “This ad is in really bad taste and really stupid..@makemytrip what were you thinking..Our team is fantastic and our country far more gracious..Pls maintain your standards and don’t stoop so low to gain attention..Absolutely Pathetic” pic.twitter.com/9wexyRKqoJ
While another one said, “As an Indian, I want to apologize to every Pakistani person for this @makemytrip ad. This does not represent Indian values. It only represents the worst among us.”