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Reacting to the picture, a Reddit user asked, “Why do some people think this is okay?”
Paan spit on luxury billboard sparked debate. (Photo Credit: X)
A billboard in India recently became the centre of a social media storm, highlighting issues of public cleanliness, sanitation, and civic responsibility. The ad, promoting a luxury development, featured an image of a woman along with the tagline, “One luxury haven. Curated indulgences, coming soon.” However, the outrage began when the woman’s face was almost completely defaced by paan (betel quid) spits. The vandalism sparked widespread disgust and fueled discussions about the lack of respect for public spaces and the pressing need for civic awareness in the country
The incident came to light after a Reddit user shared an image of the stained billboard expressing frustration for blatant disrespect to public property: “Someone had spat tobacco (paan) all over her face. The red stains stood out, and honestly, it was absolutely disgusting and infuriating.” The exact location of the billboard has not been revealed, but the image surfaced in no time and sent many users into outrage.
“Why do some people think this is okay? Is it sheer lack of respect for public spaces? Or just the casual disregard for decency? It’s not just about the billboard or the girl in the ad—it’s a reflection of a larger issue in our society”: the user added.
Social media users have condemned the act. Many comments said this reflects a greater problem at the social level: concern for public hygiene and respect for shared spaces.
A user highlighted: “It’s a travesty when the biggest actors are all spokesperson for pan masala of all things.”
Another user said: “This wasn’t a random act. They intentionally went out of their way to deface this billboard. Or this person was 9 ft tall.”
Yet another user mentioned: “I don’t know why some of the people are so frustrated in their life that they just want to destroy the things that they think mock them.”
This is not an incident in isolation but a series of incidents defacing public properties with paan stains. Earlier this year, the newly inaugurated Atal Setu popularly known as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link was under serious question barely some time after coming into function due to news of littering and public misdemeanour. Images of red stains from paan, besides litter, were seen scattered on the bridge just hours after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13, 2024.
