A day after Kriti Sanon responded to criticism over her outfit in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement, the jewellery brand behind the campaign has withdrawn the ad. The brand issued a statement saying it holds Indian culture, traditions and festivals in the highest regard.For those not in the know, Kriti had addressed the backlash on August 25 through a note on Instagram. For the jewellery advertisement, the actor was dressed in an off-white outfit featuring a bralette-style blouse, a cape and a draped skirt. This outfit led to backlash about the kind of clothes one should wear for raksha bandhan.In its statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday, the brand apologised if the campaign had unintentionally offended anyone and announced that it had been removed from all media platforms.“If our recent advertisement has inadvertently hurt the sentiments of some segments of society, that was not our intent at all. Out of respect, we have withdrawn the said advertisement from all media. Wish you all the love & positivity this festive season!”Kriti, meanwhile, had argued that festivals are defined by their emotions and traditions rather than clothing. Sharing her thoughts on the criticism, she wrote: “The essence of festivals is not in the clothes you wear, it is in the emotions and meaning you hold for the traditions. Rakshabandhan is a bond of protection. My sister and I tie rakhi to each other.”She further explained how the festival is celebrated in her family, adding that the bond of protection is not limited to a brother-sister relationship.“We know we can protect each other no less than a brother would have. We pray for each other’s health, happiness & long life. And for us, this prayer and promise extends to our dogs too! Afterall, they are family!”She concluded her note by saying, “Also, when will we stop telling women what to wear?? Ethnic fashion has evolved over the years, but still a woman’s respect for her culture is measured with just her clothes!! Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!”The ‘Cocktail 2’ actor also questioned the practice of judging a woman’s connection to her culture based on her clothing.
