Kozhikode: A hospital in Kerala’s Kozhikode tendered an apology for using the photograph of renowned Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman to promote its skincare treatment facility.
“Get your skin tags, DPNs, warts, milia, molluscum and comedones removed through simple procedures easily in a single visit,” said the advertisement which featured the Oscar-winning actor.
It led to a furore and a chorus of protests, with many saying the ad was ‘racist and ignorant’.
Sir, .@morgan_freeman your picture is used as a poster at a dermatology department advt board in hospital in Kerala, India.
Using your picture as sample, they are claiming to make everyone free from dark tan, wrinkles, pigments…. pic.twitter.com/54plREcswi
— Rejimon Kuttappan (@rejitweets) January 31, 2022
“A dermatologist joined our Out Patient Department recently. In order to publicise skincare treatment facilities at the hospital, the board was installed and kept for four days. Due to lack of knowledge and seriousness, the board was carelessly installed in front of the OPD. A person inquired why Nelson Mandela’s photo was printed for the ad. We then removed it,” Vadakara Cooperative hospital’s marketing head T Sunil told indianexpress.com.
Freeman had played former South African President Mandela in the 2009 film ‘Invictus’.
“However, the ad went viral on social media by Sunday. We extended our apology on Facebook. We understand that Freeman is a great artist, admired by many people across the world. We sincerely say sorry for the lack of knowledge,” Sunil added.
