Coldplaygate: Did Amul's Butter Fingers make a slip in judgement?
corporate scandal
, make butter puns or so Amul thought. The iconic dairy brand recently stirred up controversy with their topical advertisement featuring the
Coldplay
"kiss cam" incident, where tech CEO Andy Byron and HR leader Kristin Cabot were caught in an intimate moment during the band's Boston concert. Byron subsequently resigned from his position as CEO of Astronomer Inc.
Amul's cheeky poster featuring their beloved mascot with the punchline
"Hum Tum Ek Camera Mein Bandh Ho"
with the spotlight of a couple being "caught on camera" garnered over 157,000 views on X, but not everyone found it as smooth as butter.
The backlash was evident on social media. LinkedIn transformed into a grief counselling session for gutted Amul devotees.
One marketing heavyweight delivered a crushing blow:
"There is a thin line between topical and tacky. This one, respectfully, leaned towards the latter... Please don't let virality dilute the voice."
Another cut deeper:
"This is definitely not funny. People are suffering. Families are breaking. You are a brand Indians are proud of — you don't need to stoop to the level of cheap influencers in the name of topical content."
A third professional went for the jugular:
"The business and the brand Amul just don't understand the basics of
Brand Management
... But does it resonate with the Positioning and Values of the Brand! I pity the Advertising Agency and the Brand Team at Amul!"
The most devastating came from a lifelong fan:
"This one surely was utterly-butterly but not delicious :( You've always shown that it's possible to be cheeky without being cruel... Still yours. Unbuttered, but never bitter."
The social media reaction was decidedly mixed, like butter left out too long. Multiple brands jumped on the viral moment, but Amul's approach seemed to spread controversy rather than contain it.
This controversy highlights the delicate slice between being topical and tasteless. When your most loyal fans are writing heartbreak letters, perhaps it's time to stick to actual bread-and-butter topics.
ET BrandEquity reached out to Amul – radio silence so far. We'll keep buttering you up with updates
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
S Line could just be the most genius K-Drama of 2025. Because sex and secrets!
If you're the type who's always up for a K-drama that messes with your mind while making you question your morals (and, occasionally, your sanity), 'S Line' should be firmly on your radar. There are no slow-motion piggyback rides or love triangles fuelled by shared umbrellas. Instead, this one kicks open the door with a premise so wildly original, it'll have your brain short-circuiting before the opening credits are the heart of 'S Line' is a provocative concept. In this world, the sexual relationships between people are exposed as literal red lines. Yes, visible to the naked eye. Imagine walking down the street and being able to see who's been intimate with whom. You won't need a Coldplay concert and a kiss cam to find out what's going on with the CEO and the Head of HR. You'll just need a pair of supernatural glasses and a taste for scandalous tea. It's a rather oddball take on the Red String Theory. For those unversed, the Red String Theory suggests that an invisible red thread connects soulmates, binding them together regardless of time, place, or circumstance. Now, onto the plot. This isn't just shock value for the sake of it, though. The drama dives deep into the chaos that would follow if our most intimate secrets were laid bare shame, judgment, societal collapse (and probably a few very tense family dinners). It's a razor-sharp commentary on privacy, perception, and how fragile society's moral compass really is when the curtains get pulled if you're thinking, 'Okay, cool idea, but does it deliver?' Oh, absolutely. 'S Line' doesn't just throw its characters into a voyeuristic nightmare and call it a day, it wraps this world in a gripping murder mystery. Someone's dead. The truth is buried. And that mysterious red string of connection? That might just be the key. It's suspense with teeth, every episode drips with tension, slowly unravelling a conspiracy that's both personal and cast? Nothing short of magnetic. Lee Soo-hyuk (whom you might know from 'Tomorrow') leads with his trademark icy elegance, turning in one of his most layered performances to date. Lee Da-hee (from 'The Divorce Insurance') brings a fierce vulnerability, while K-pop group Oh My Girl's Arin surprises with emotional range that proves she's no longer just the rookie on the scene. Each character feels raw, real, and heartbreakingly human, even when they're tangled in a reality that's anything in case you needed more convincing, 'S Line' has already made waves internationally, winning Best Music at the Cannes International Series Festival and sparking online buzz before it even dropped. It's bold, it's stylish, and it's got the kind of concept that makes you question whether your phone camera is watching you a little too a world where social media already blurs the line between public and private, 'S Line' asks what if that line wasn't just blurred, it was visible to everyone? If you're looking for something sleek, unsettling, and thought-provoking, 'S Line' isn't just worth watching, it's impossible to ignore. You can watch the show on Dailymotion.- Ends
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Watch: UK Theatre Stops Indian Movie Screening Midway As Fans Make Mess
A user has shared a video footage on social media, showing staff members at a UK theatre stopping a movie screening to school the audience members after they allegedly threw confetti and made a mess around them. The incident transpired as the Telugu movie, Hari Hara Veera Mallu, was playing on the big screen. "A group of people threw confetti during a screening of Hari Hara Veera Mallu in the UK, disrupting the show," the user named @MeruBhaiya wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "The staff rightly stopped the film and called them out. This kind of hooliganism is unacceptable and deserves strong condemnation," they added. See the post here: A group of people threw confetti during a screening of Hari Hara Veera Mallu in the UK, disrupting the show. The staff rightly stopped the film and called them out. This kind of hooliganism is unacceptable and deserves strong condemnation. — Meru (@MeruBhaiya) July 24, 2025 Also Read | "If Blueprint Doesn't Work...": Bryan Johnson Reveals Backup Plan If His Company Fails 'Pathetic behaviour' As of the last update, the video had garnered nearly three million views and hundreds of comments, with the majority agreeing with the cinema staff's decision to reprimand the audience members. Others said the audience should have offered to clean up the theatre, having made the mess. "Sad but Indian really need some decorum classes for living in the UK.. just pathetic behaviour all over," said one user while another added: "Why weren't they thrown out?!" A third commented: "At least they could have said sorry and should have offered to clean up. That would have been more graceful than trying to argue it out.' After a user said throwing confetti and other items during a popular movie was a cultural thing for Indians from the southern region, the OP instantly disagreed. "I don't care whether they're from the South or the North, this kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable in the UK. What might be considered normal in Indian cinemas is seen here as littering and being disrespectful," the OP wrote.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
What is the viral 'Tea' app allowing women to red-flag men?
Tea, a women-only app, allows users to anonymously share feedback with each other about the men they are dating, have dated previously or even interacted with. The app has gained popularity on TikTok and seems to be particularly popular with Gen Z. Here's what we know read more The app is gaining popularity among Gen Z. A new women-only app called Tea has gone viral. The app is named for after the expression 'spilling the tea' or sharing the gossip. It allows women to anonymously share feedback about the men they are dating, have dated previously or even interacted with in the past. The app, ironically, became more popular at the same time that the Coldplay cheating saga unfolded. It is quickly becoming one of the most popular apps in different app stores. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what do we know about Tea? How does it work? Let's take a closer look: What do we know? How does it work? The app was founded by Sean Cook, who previously worked at Salesforce and Shutterfly. Tea is gaining popularity on TikTok. It seems to be particularly popular with Gen Z and amongst West Asian communities. The app currently has over 500,000 users. It currently has a waiting list of around 900,000 to join. It has skyrocketed to the top of the ranks for free apps on the Apple store. It is also available on Android phones. The chat features a 'Group Chat' in which women can share experiences about men and dating among themselves. Women can post photos of the men they're dating and list 'green flags' and 'red flags'. They can also solicit information from other women who have dated the same man and their backgrounds. While some features are free, others are behind a paywall. After five free searches, women can shell out $15 (Rs 1,300). Or they can gain unlimited searches by inviting others to join Tea. Tea has received over 16,000 five-star ratings. The chat features a 'Group Chat' in which women can share experiences about men and dating. Image courtesy: 'Unlike anything else out there, this app is designed with women's safety, awareness, and empowerment as its top priority,' one review reads. 'It goes beyond basic dating protection and truly provides a layer of defense against liars, cheaters, scammers, and even predators.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, most of the reviews of men on the app appear to be negative. The app also has a real-time verification mechanism to prevent men from gaining access to it. 'If you get past the waiting list, you have to submit a pic of your face with an ID to prove you are a girl because no guys are allowed on the app,' one user told 'The guys that are green flags, I was trying to look them up on social media and like, oh, this is a good guy. So both ends of the spectrum are dictating my dating life right now'. It uses Artificial Intelligence to conduct background checks on its users. It also has catfish detection technology which allows users to reverse image search and uncover fake profiles. Phone number lookup helps verify if someone has a hidden marriage or concerning history with their phone number. Women can also look up public records of men and check their criminal history. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cook has said he came up with the idea for the app after watching his mother struggle in the online dating world. Not only did she get repeatedly scammed, she also got catfished on dating platforms. Sabrina Henriquez, 28, told Washington Post she found the app on TikTok. She said other women had discussed how the app helmed them. 'They were going to go on a date with a certain individual, but once they got on the app and saw how much of a safety hazard this man is because of the allegations of abuse, it kind of saved them from putting themselves in that situation,' Henriquez said. The data shows Cook is right. Not only are women at risk of being scammed on dating apps, they could also be in physical danger. A 2019 ProPublica report, conducted with Columbia Journalism Investigations, showed that a one-third of 1,200 women had been sexually assaulted by men they met on dating apps. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'With millions of women facing online dating risks daily, I knew there had to be a better way,' Cook has said. 'Tea was built to provide women with an easy way to vet potential dates without fear instantly. Dating should be exciting, not dangerous-and we're here to revolutionise online dating safety for women.' Tea also donates 10 per cent of its profits to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. While women have praised the app on social media, men have not. It is currently available in the United States. What do critics say? Some are worried about the app possibly being misused. Others have raised issues of privacy for the men whose photos and information have been put up on the app. 'The app could easily be used to spread unverified accusations — especially with its anonymous nature — and could even be used as a revenge tool,' Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, told Forbes. 'While its intentions are simple and protective, the unregulated format could unfortunately open it up to abuse,' he says. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They predict a slew of lawsuits for the app. Experts say that the women posting on the app should do so carefully. Attorney William Barnwell told 'I could see some areas where this could cause people some big problems'. 'Truth is an absolute defence for a defamation claim; you can't just sue someone because your feelings are hurt'. 'You can be saying something that is true, but it's being used in a way to constantly harass somebody. There are laws that cover that,' Barnwell added. 'In people's outrage to want to out these bad people, it might be better to walk away.' With inputs from agencies
