Jawed Habib // Twitter
Reknowned hairstylist Javed Habib seems to have irked the delicate sentiments of many on social media, with an ad in a Kolkata newspaper, promoting his nation-wide chain of salons for the upcoming festive season, reported India Today.
Through September and October, the country's Hindus will be celebrating Navratri, Durga Puja, Dussehra and Diwali.
The print ad showed several Hindu gods — Durga, Ganesh, Karthik, Lakshmi and Saraswati — enjoying a spa day at a Habib's parlour. The tagline reads, "Gods too visit JH salon."
This, apparently, hurt the religious sentiments of many, who rushed to social media to vent their anger; abuse, boycott and threaten to kill Habib; and make breathtakingly anti-Islamic comments.
Rubbish ad by Jawed Habib. I dare him to do such an ad on his Prophet. pic.twitter.com/XxpZQ7pZiu
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) September 5, 2017
Now this is perfect.
— Atharva 🇮🇳 (@_Shivoham) September 5, 2017
@JH_JawedHabib pic.twitter.com/UKZ84cn6Bt
Boycott him guys#JawedHabib has insulted our Hindu deities pic.twitter.com/pcec1hiKtq
— Gitanjali D.S (@Gitanjali_DS) September 6, 2017
Can't do much else, not like I can issue a fatwa, but atleast I can vow to never visit your salons again @JH_JawedHabib. Despicable pic.twitter.com/SLNgZqRNqx
— Nupur (@UnSubtleDesi) September 5, 2017
#JawedHabib
— Lukky Vaishnav 🇮🇳 (@Lukky_Vaishnav) September 6, 2017
will u want to put this pic on ur salon?
For advertisement?
Tell the world in Muslim population is more than Hindus
Go ahead pic.twitter.com/7VRXjoxc2h
Quick to react to the lashback, the company issued a retraction, apologising for inadvertently hurting religious sentiments.
— Jawed Habib (@JH_JawedHabib) September 5, 2017
Habib too posted a video on Twitter clarifying that a franchisee owner had taken out the ad without authorisation from the company. Even so, he apologised profusely for causing any hurt.
— Jawed Habib (@JH_JawedHabib) September 5, 2017
Fortunately, there were some voices of reason as well.
We can't imagine Jesus getting married, can't imagine Durga getting a spa day! I feel sorry for the gods #JawedHabibhttps://t.co/OvlOQB7TT7
— Shreya (@ShreyaTeresita) September 6, 2017
ne1 can depict them in anyway as Hindus are idol worsippers Each region each sect has variations in how the goddess is depicted
— Madhura (@beralertalibosh) September 6, 2017
#DurgaPujo Ads from d past..how much 'outrage' for these? #JawedHabib apologised for an ad that showed Ma as family..thats #PujoSpirit 4us pic.twitter.com/MDf2rU8TQ9
— Saileena (@saileenas) September 6, 2017
Jawed Habib is the Chairman of Jawed Habib Hair and Beauty Limited, a $30 million business (as of 2015-2016) and 636 outlets across 110 Indian cities.
According to several reports, Habib suffered a heart attack yesterday in Haryana. He was in the state to inaugurate a salon, when he suffered severe chest pain and collapsed on the floor. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was declared out of danger by the doctors.
Assuring concerned well-wishers, Habib also posted on Twitter that he was "safe and sound".
I am safe and sound. Thank you for your concern.
— Jawed Habib (@JH_JawedHabib) September 5, 2017
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