SONY LIV issues apology after facing backlash for insensitive promotional gimmick for Undekhi : Bollywood News

The promotional gimmick for SONY LIV's upcoming show Undekhi has landed in trouble. A few people have been receiving a call from a man named Rishi who with a shivering voice informs the receiver that he has witnessed a murder and now the murderer is behind his life. It is only towards the end of the call it is revealed that it is a promotional call from Sony LIV series Undekhi.

SONY LIV issues apology after facing backlash for insensitive promotional gimmick for Undekhi

Several netizens who received the call took to Twitter to call out this insenistive promotional activity by Sony LIV. Actor Mini Mathur called out the promotional strategy and tweeted, “Has everyone finally LOST THE PLOT??? Such a pathetic, insensitive marketing gimmick at a time when people are already on edge and anxious. What a blooming shame!”

A Twitter used Suvrata Bhati also recorded the call and wrote, “a ridiculous #promotional call trick by #Undekhi #SonyLIV Do U even realise what this can cause to a person if they miss out the last few words in panic. Get a better way to promote your series.”

What a ridiculous #promotional call trick by #Undekhi #SonyLIV Do U even realise what this can cause to a person if they miss out the last few words in panic. Get a better way to promote your series #webseries #advertisement #ScamAlert #murdercall #unethical #worldpremiereseries pic.twitter.com/8CzUhTkVti
— Suvrata Bhati (@BhatiSuvrata) July 10, 2020

Shame on you @SonyLIV I just got to know that this call is a promotional gimmick for your new show. I was on the floor breathless with panic when I got it. Are you out of your mind doing this??? @MumbaiPolice you must take action. This is appalling and unethical. https://t.co/4Vp1YAzYjW
— smriti kiran (@smritikiran) July 10, 2020

Similar thing happened to me. In my case, the caller was some Rishi (which is also my brother-in-law’s name) & he called me by my nick name telling me in a trembling voice that he witnessed a murder. Too much of a commonality here but left me blacked out for a few seconds. Nasty!
— SHWETA MEHROTRA (@shweta_mehrotra) July 10, 2020

Soon after the backlash at this promotional activity, Sony LIV issued an apology which read, “If you have received a call for our show Undekhi & it has disturbed you we would like to sincerely apologise to you. This was a test activity which has gone out accidentally & our intention was not to cause any kind of discomfort or panic. We sincerely regret any inconvenience.”

If you have received a call for our show Undekhi & it has disturbed you we would like to sincerely apologise to you. This was a test activity which has gone out accidentally & our intention was not to cause any kind of discomfort or panic. We sincerely regret any inconvenience.
— SonyLIV (@SonyLIV) July 10, 2020