Caresmith's Sarcastic Response to Bombay Shaving Company's Print Ad Controversy

Caresmith, a brand known for personal care and grooming appliances, has chimed in on the recent controversy surrounding the Bombay Shaving Company (BSC) with a cheeky "print ad" of its own. Co-founder Rushabh Shah took to social media to share the satirical post, taking a playful jab at Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of BSC, who faced significant backlash over a viral print ad.

The ad humorously reads, "Dear Shantanu, Whether you have hair or not, our Head Massager doesn't C.A.R.E."

This advertisement is a parody of BSC's original "Dear Prachi" ad, where the company expressed wishes for Prachi Nigam, a Class 10 topper from UP who faced online bullying due to her facial hair, to not feel pressured into purchasing their products (razors).

In a sarcastic tone, Caresmith founder Shah also added, "We don't have the budget to place this ad in newspapers. Please support us by purchasing our head massagers."

In a nod to Deshpande's original post expressing concern for the "amount of hate targeted at Shantanu," Shah mimicked the sentiment mockingly.

For context, BSC's sister brand, Bombae, released a print ad purportedly in solidarity with Prachi Nigam. However, as Bombae sells grooming products, many netizens criticized the move as opportunistic and hypocritical. Deshpande's endorsement of the ad on LinkedIn further fueled the controversy, drawing criticism from both the public and industry professionals for what was seen as exploiting a sensitive situation for marketing gain.

The ad also caught the attention of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). CEO Manisha Kapoor highlighted the ethical concerns raised by the ad, stating that it has been flagged for examination by the ASCI jury. ASCI has strict regulations prohibiting ads that could cause physical, mental, or moral harm, especially exploiting the vulnerability of children, such as in the case of Prachi Nigam.