Actress Swara Bhasker pointed out that Zomato’s ads were displayed on Republic TV – a national media channel helmed by Arnab Goswami.
Zomato responded to Bhasker saying that it doesn’t endorse any content other than its own, and that didn’t sit well with supporters of the television channel.
This resulted in “boycottzomato” trending, while calls for its rival Swiggy rose higher on Twitter.
Controversies keep knocking on Zomato’s door and this time around, the $3.6 billion Indian foodtech unicorn is caught in the middle of a tweet storm.
It all started when an actor Swara Bhasker pointed out that Zomato’s ads were displayed on Republic TV, a national media channel helmed by Arnab Goswami that is often in controversy for its blatant support of the current Indian government and polarising narratives. Bhasker said that being a loyal user, she wasn’t okay with her “money even indirectly funding this kind of communal bigoted hate!”
Hey @zomatoin @zomato @deepigoyal I’m your regular customer.. do u plan to #DefundTheHate & pull your ads from hate… https://t.co/aIOfjlRVv8
Earlier, the likes of
Bajaj Auto and FMCG major Parle had said that they were pulling ads from Republic TV because of it being a “toxic” news channel and the TV channel, which is also accused of manipulating ratings.
Advertisement
However, that’s not where it ended. Zomato responded to Bhasker saying that it doesn’t endorse any content other than its own, and that didn’t sit well with supporters of the television channel.
@ReallySwara @zomatoin @zomato @deepigoyal @Republic_Bharat Hi Swara, please note, we don’t endorse any content exc… https://t.co/SNXxZJpT1k
Even this measured response resulted in “boycottzomato” trending, and those slamming Zomato, and its founder Deepinder Goyal, threatened to shift their business to rival Swiggy.
Advertisement
Hey @zomatoin @zomato @deepigoyal @zomatocare this is your big moment... this is your big test... decide who is you… https://t.co/oV5NhjakEv
This is not the first time Zomato has angered India’s Hindu right wing
But this isn’t the first time Zomato has been caught in a controversy like this. Zomato had
shutdown a bigoted customer, who refused to take an order from a delivery guy of a different religion. Zomato replied, “Food doesn’t have a religion. It is a religion”, while its co-founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal said he wasn’t sorry to let go of any business that comes in the way of their values.
Even while Zomato’s reply sent thousands of trolls their way, the company took a stand on the issue.
Zomato’s takeaway service will see the foodtech unicorn offer zero-commission to restaurants
Urban Ladder was the fourth startup from Kalaari Capital’s portfolio to be sold to Reliance – the investment firm’s MD is of the belief ‘selling does not mean sellout’
RBI’s innovation hub will be led by Infosys co-founder and veteran investor Kris Gopalakrishnan
Next