Zomato faces backlash for irresponsible social media post, apologizes amid criticism

Netizen expresses concern over trivializing drug issues and unnecessary tagging of police

A vigilant netizen, Ravi Handa, recently raised concerns about a controversial social media post by the popular food delivery giant, Zomato. The post, which has since been deleted, stirred controversy by addressing the topic of drugs and tagging the Gurgaon police.

Handa shared a screenshot of the now-removed Zomato post and labelled it as “irresponsible behaviour from a publicly listed company.” The post featured an image of a bag of banana chips next to a laptop screen displaying the word “HELPPP!!!”

The accompanying caption read, “Hello @gurgaonpolice someone brought drugs to the office.”

This post led to criticism on social media, with many believing that it trivialized the serious issue of drug use. It was shared on September 20, 2023, and Handa promptly expressed his concerns about the actions of a publicly listed company.

In his post, Handa pointed out that companies should avoid tagging police handles on social media merely to garner likes and retweets. He highlighted the potential diversion of police resources that could be better utilized elsewhere.

Handa’s post garnered significant attention, with over 100 thousand views and hundreds of comments. Many users criticized Zomato for its actions.
In response to Handa’s concerns, Zomato acknowledged the issue and commented on the post, stating, “Hi Ravi, you’re right. Upon reconsideration, we realized that it was an irresponsible and unnecessary tweet. We’ve removed it and sincerely apologize.”

However, some users expressed scepticism regarding Zomato’s apology, suggesting that it was a pattern for the company. Handa emphasized that it was the role of the marketing department to explore various strategies, while consumers had the right to voice their opinions about what they considered inappropriate marketing.

While opinions varied, with some praising Handa’s accuracy and others questioning the motive behind the post, the incident highlights the importance of responsible social media use, particularly by prominent companies like Zomato.

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