Future Group responds to ‘obscene’ and photoshopped version of Big Bazaar ad going viral

On December 30, 2015, the hashtag #CheckBeforeSharing was trending on Twitter and became the number one trend towards the later evening.  Big Bazaar used the hashtag and shared the message-- ‘Someone got ‘obscenely’ creative with our advertisement which many shared without checking! Just because it is on the internet, it need not be true!

The brand was referring to the incident, which took place a day earlier, when a distorted and obscene version of the Big Bazaar ad went going viral on Facebook and WhatsApp. The ad that appeared in the Times of India and announced Public Holiday sale (25-27 December), got mired in controversy after its photoshopped version became a source of social media humour.

Below is an excerpt of Big Bazaar’s tweet:

Someone got 'obscenely' creative with our Advertisement which many shared without checking! #CheckBeforeSharing pic.twitter.com/WD9S525HWI

— Big Bazaar (@BigBazaar) December 30, 2015

In a statement to exchange4media, Sandip Tarkas, President of Consumer Strategy, Future Group said, “I am reminded of an old adage: I don’t know if I am coming or going but I am on my way and these days a lot of people are in a tearing hurry to get to that I-don’t-know-where-yet-space. Every salacious rumour, every scary scenario, every oh-so-satisfying-simple-explanation of a complex problem is not to be shared without verifying. If that sounds preachy, I would like to end with Murphy’s Law – the most important leg of a three legged stool is the one that’s missing. Often we act without verifying facts and that is the most important leg of the three legged story.”

Twitteratis speak:

Twitteratis were sharing their views using the hashtag #CheckBeforeSharing, urging people to be more responsible and not believe or share anything without confirming it.

This is an eye opener for all those who thinks "internet mein sab kuch sach hota hai" #CheckBeforeSharing Share with care..

— Sood, Abhinav (@soodabhinav08) December 30, 2015

Its easy to press the share button, but share responsibly, not blindly #CheckBeforeSharing

— Rayees {RYS} (@isitray92) December 30, 2015

#CheckBeforeSharing You could be the reason an unreal Rumor becomes a Real Catastrophe. #CheckBeforeSharing

— #RohanParsekar (@rohan_parsekar) December 30, 2015

Tweeps be smart & share content from authentic sources. Rumors are not to be shared nor to be entertained! #CheckBeforeSharing

— Sukanta Behera (@sukanta4557) December 30, 2015