Flipkart faces backlash over death-themed sale advertisement

Flipkart is facing significant social media backlash following a print advertisement for its Freedom Sale that utilized death-themed imagery and obituary-style formatting. The campaign featured memorial-style boxes containing photographs and personal details of individuals, accompanied by the headline, “We aren’t sad at all.”

The advertisement included the text, “While they continue to live, our deals will soon leave,” to signal the approaching end of the sale period. Critics have condemned the campaign as insensitive and in poor taste, arguing that using themes of mourning and grief to promote commercial discounts crosses ethical boundaries in advertising.

Author and columnist Shobhaa De was among the prominent critics, labeling the campaign “the most self-serving, disgusting and insensitive ad” and calling for a consumer boycott of the e-commerce platform.