Pierce Brosnan Threatened With Jail Time After Controversial Tobacco Ad In India
In between projects, public figures often film commercials for countless products. However, there have been some celebrities that came under scrutiny for their participation.
Pierce Brosnan Under Fire
According to the BBC, Indian government officials have ordered actor Pierce Brosnan to shed light on his participation in his latest venture. The former James Bond and current star of the Mamma Mia film franchise shot an advertisement for an Indian mouth freshener produced by Indian health company, Pan Bahar.
The actual product that Pan Bahar selected for Brosnan to endorse include ingredients such as lime, nuts, spices, and tobacco. Several Indian officials have condemned the advertisement because India's laws have prohibited commercials and marketing campaigns for any tobacco products.
The Government's Threat
Indian government officials have made a threat to Brosnan. If the Die Another Day star does not respond to their requests within 10 days, he could face a fine of $78 American dollars or go to jail for two years.
BBC News stated, however, that it's unclear how this could be imposed on Brosnan if he does not respond to the request.
A Blindside
This threat by the Indian government comes just 18 months after The World Is Not Enough actor completed the advertisement campaign. When news about the controversial campaign first hit in 2016, Brosnan spoke exclusively to People Magazine and revealed that the company duped him.
"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," said Brosnan to People Magazine in an interview on Oct. 20, 2016.
Brosnan also explained to the magazine that his contract stated that he would only endorse one product and it would have nothing to do with tobacco.
Other Celebrities Facing Controversies
Meanwhile, Brosnan is not the only celebrity to face controversies. Original Teen Mom star Amber Portwood came under fire for suffering a relapse. Fans of the polarizing MTV show accused the young mother of being back on drugs.
Also, former guests of Dr. Phil McGraw's talk show stated that the popular television psychologist and his staff provided access to drugs and alcohol. The show's director of Professional Affairs denied all of the accusations.
Rapper Lil Peep lost his life due to his drug addiction. The rapper's toxicology reports stated that a combination of Fentanyl and Xanax played a role in his death.
