The Irish actor Pierce Brosnan has apologised to the people of India for the “unauthorised and deceptive use” of his image in an advertising campaign for a chewing mixture that sometimes contains tobacco. A heavily bearded Brosnan appeared on the front page of Indian national newspapers and TV advertisements earlier this month to promote pan masala, a preparation that can contain tobacco, lime, spices and nuts. After an uproar – including from the Indian government, which has banned pan masala advertising – the company clarified that the specific variety Brosnan was promoting contained neither tobacco nor nicotine. Brosnan said on Friday he was “deeply shocked and saddened” that his image was used to promote a potentially harmful product. He said he had agreed to advertise a product that he was told was a “breath freshener/tooth whitener [and] all-natural, containing neither tobacco, supari, nor any other harmful ingredient”.

Source: The Guardian October 21, 2016 06:33 UTC