New Delhi: Celebrities are born after excelling in their respective fields. And with fame comes money, as well as responsibility.
In a hugely populous country like India, especially, millions look up to successful cricketers, sportspersons, filmstars as role models. These celebrities have to be extra careful in their public behaviour and be choosy about the brands they endorse.
Former Team India opener and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir recently lashed out at cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Virender Sehwag for endorsing an Indian tobacco brand.
Asked what he felt about ex-Indian cricketers endorsing Pan Masala, Gambhir summed up his feelings in two words – ‘disgusting’ and ‘disappointing.’
Gambhir, a two-time World Cup winner, opined that money shouldn’t be so important that one starts endorsing such products given that millions of kids look up to them as role models. He took Sachin Tendulkar’s example to establish his point.
“It’s disgusting and disappointing. That is why I say, choose your role models carefully. One gets recognised not by name, but by the work they do. Crores of kids are watching. Money is not that important that you will end of doing a Pan Masala ad. In 2018, when I had stepped down from Delhi Capitals captaincy, I had given up INR 3 crore. I could have taken it, but I left it because I always believe that I should get what I deserve. Sachin Tendulkar was offered 20-30 crore but said no to these pan masala ads. He had promised his father that he would never engage in such stuff, which is why he is a role model,” Gambhir said in an interview with News18.
Last month, Sehwag and Gavaskar criticised Gambhir and Virat Kohli for their infamous ‘clash’ during an IPL match at Lucknow. Sehwag had commented that the two ‘icons’ should not set a bad precedent for kids with such behaviour.
Both Sehwag and Gavaskar were, however, called out in social media for hypocrisy as they appeared in an endorsement for a tobacco brand.
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