A bad aftertaste! Pierce Brosnan apologises over ad for shunned chewing mixture

Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan says he is distressed by the deceptive use of his image in Indian pan masala brand’s advertisement.

The actor said that he was deeply shocked and saddened to learn the pan masala product he was advertising may include ingredients that can cause cancer, reported People magazine.

A heavily bearded Brosnan appeared on the front page of Indian national newspapers and TV advertisements earlier this month to promote pan masala, a preparation that can contain tobacco, lime, spices and nuts. The product — use of which has been known to increase the risk of developing mouth and throat cancers — is expectorated in red bursts across the country’s streets and sidewalks.

Brosnan said he has the “greatest love and affection for India and its people.”

He said in a statement: “As a man who has spent decades championing women’s healthcare and environmental protection, I was distressed to learn of Pan Bahar’s unauthorized and deceptive use of my image to endorse their range of pan masala products. I would never have entered into an agreement to promote a product in India that is dangerous to one’s health.”

The 63-year-old Irish star said his contract stated that he was to advertise a “breath freshener/tooth whitener,” which wouldn’t include an ingredient that turns saliva red. According to the actor he agreed to advertise a single product only, and that it was presented as “all-natural containing neither tobacco, supari, nor any other harmful ingredient.”