A Bollywood star has been met with a backlash after she admitted to faking her own death to raise awareness for cervical cancer.
Fans of Poonam Pandey were left devastated on Friday (2 February) when a post on the actor’s Instagram announced the news that she had passed away at just 32.
The post, shared with Pandey’s 1.3 million followers, read: “This morning is a tough one for us.
“Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer. Every living form that ever came in contact with her was met with pure love and kindness.”
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Her manager Nikita Sharma later ‘confirmed’ the news to NDTV, reportedly telling the station: “Poonam Pandey, the beloved actress and social media personality, has tragically passed away this morning due to cervical cancer, leaving the entertainment industry in shock and mourning.”
As the news broke, tributes began to pour in from fans and those working within the industry, including fellow Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut, who said: “This is so sad. Losing a young woman to cancer is a catastrophe.”
However, the following day, Pandey took to Instagram to admit that she had faked the whole thing in an attempt to raise awareness of cervical cancer.
Sharing a video of herself, she explained that while she was very much alive, the same couldn’t be said about the ‘hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives because of cervical cancer'.
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In a caption alongside the clip, she wrote: “I feel compelled to share something significant with you all - I am here, alive.
“Cervical cancer didn’t claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease.
“Unlike some other cancers, cervical cancer is entirely preventable. The key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. We have the means to ensure no one loses their life to this disease.
“Let’s empower one another with critical awareness and ensure every woman is informed about the steps to take.”
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It's fair to say that the stunt did not go down well with fans.
Responding to her update, one person wrote: “Am happy she is alive but [please] arrest her for this drama and publicity stunt.”
Another said: “Exploiting a serious issue like cervical cancer for cheap publicity is absolutely disgraceful. Using your platform to spread awareness is commendable, but faking your own death is a new low.”
In a follow up post defending her actions, Pandey wrote: "Feel free to express your frustration - I understand. But this is not just lip service, instead I'm committing my entire body to the service of cervical cancer.
"Once you've portrayed your sentiments, I invite you to visit www.poonampandeyisalive.com, my gift to you, where we can come together to combat cervical cancer."
Topics: Celebrity, Health, World News, Cancer
Claire Reid