Last month, brands like Bajaj Auto and Parle blacklisted news channels citing they do not want to be associated with platforms that are “a source of toxicity in the society”.
Taking the same string of thought ahead, netizens pointed out that restaurant aggregator and food delivery app Zomato is one of the advertising partners on Republic TV news channel.
Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker took it up on Twitter and wrote, “Hey @zomatoin @zomato @deepigoyal I’m your regular customer.. do u plan to #DefundTheHate & pull your ads from hate espousing channels like @Republic_Bharat ? I’m not okay with my money even indirectly funding this kind of communal bigoted hate! Pls let your consumers know..”
Zomato commented on the post with, “Hi Swara, please note, we don’t endorse any content except our own. That being said, we are looking into this.”
Hey @zomatoin @zomato @deepigoyal I’m your regular customer.. do u plan to #DefundTheHate & pull your ads from hate espousing channels like @Republic_Bharat ? I’m not okay with my money even indirectly funding this kind of communal bigoted hate! Pls let your consumers know.. https://t.co/mMacP8IawZ
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) November 18, 2020
This however, enraged Arnab Goswami fans (Republic TV editor-in-chief) and demanded Zomato reveal its stance, and further threatening to “uninstall the app for siding with Bhasker.”
Here are some reactions to Zomato on the microblogging site.
I am urging my friends to plz stop ordering via zomato. ✌? https://t.co/hHkYHJzw1y
— your time’s up IPS/IAS elect (@indiantweeter) November 18, 2020
Only idiot mind in Zomato can say this that we are looking into this. Atleast compare the both @ReallySwara and her brand image of failed 4th grade actress and @Republic_Bharat No#1 News Network. ? https://t.co/VY3VXjIXaY
— NEEL (@nto1927) November 18, 2020
Hi @zomato @zomatocare @zomatoin we are disconnecting with you for siding / endorsing hate mongerers and anti nationals like @swara
Congrats…you just lost atleast 20,000 business yearly from a loyal customer…uninstalling the app https://t.co/X42t62qz8U— Contrarian (@Contrarian12345) November 19, 2020
For responding to an unreasonable demand by a person who fanned communal passions, deleting Zomato app. Anyway good for health too https://t.co/WT2mBwkmPT
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) November 18, 2020
Swiggy tomorrow ? https://t.co/vy2A3j9dO9 pic.twitter.com/drWjNAQOvg
— mthn op (@Being_Humor) November 18, 2020
Zomato is yet to release an official statement regarding their commercials on Republic TV. However, Twitter is divided into two groups – one urging the company to “defund hate”, while the other threatening to boycott for not supporting Republic TV and Arnab Goswami.
Source: Free Press Journal
