New Delhi: Instagram influencer and reality show contestant Uorfi Javed took a dig at Poonam Pandey on Saturday for faking her death. On Friday, a statement was posted from Poonam Pandey’s Instagram account stating that the actor had died due to cervical cancer. The death news turned out to be a hoax and Poonam posted a video on Instagram on Saturday saying that she is alive and the intention behind the death stunt was to create awareness about cervical cancer.
Uorfi on Saturday posted a picture of herself lying on a bed with kohl smeared around her eyes. Taking an indirect dig at Poonam’s antic, Uorfi wrote in her caption, “Hi guys I’m not dead , just spreading awareness about hangovers . When you’re drinking , you feel so alive , the next day , you feel dead 💀 but you don’t really die . Sorry the dead ain’t deading.”
Post her video about faking her death, Poonam was criticised by celebrities and netizens. Many called her stunt "disgraceful”, “ridiculous”.
Anticipating the backlash, Poonam had posted another video apologising to people. She said, “Hi everyone it's Poonam. I am sorry to those whom I have hurt. My intention is to shock everyone into the conversation that we are not talking enough about cervical cancer.”
“Yes, I faked my demise.”
She added: “Extreme I know. But suddenly we all are talking about cervical cancer. This disease silently takes your life and this disease needs the spotlight urgently. I am proud of what my death news has been able to achieve.”
Poonam also went live on Instagram and spoke about her decision and people’s reaction.
She said, “I did not make any money out of it. It was purely for a cause. Nobody was willing to take this campaign. I know it was extreme, I sincerely apologise. I am glad that since yesterday all I am reading about is cervical cancer. My message has reached right. Every person in India is aware about cervical cancer.”
“It’s a terrible feeling. I am shivering right now. My friends are very angry, and don’t know if they will even talk to me. My PR team had no clue where I was, I went underground,” she said on live.