Schbang Founder issues apology amid backlash over Poonam Pandey stunt

Harshil Karia, the Founder of Schbang, has issued a public apology in response to the controversy surrounding the death stunt of Poonam Pandey, which was created by his agency.
The stunt was part of a cervical cancer awareness initiative, but it faced massive criticism, leading to the loss of a major client, MSD.
Karia, on his LinkedIn, issued a public apology, stating: “To those we've upset or hurt, I stand before you with a humility born from this mistake. Saying "I'm sorry" hardly captures the depth of my regret, but I offer it to you sincerely, hoping it marks the beginning of our amends.

This incident has taught me a valuable lesson: true change requires us not to break down walls, but to build gates—gates of understanding, empathy, and respect for all.”
Furthermore, Karia also thanked the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) for their assistance in rectifying the agency's mistakes. He mentioned that, moving forward, Schbang would seek guidance from ASCI on campaigns, indicating a commitment to adhere to industry standards.
It's noteworthy that Schbang had previously apologized for the controversial campaign, and in the midst of negative comments and backlash, they shared statistics claiming that the stunt had successfully raised awareness about cervical cancer.
Despite this, the agency faced consequences, including the loss of the pharmaceutical client MSD, which terminated its partnership, citing the campaign as irresponsible.