Jawed Habib Tenders Apology After ‘Gods Visiting Salon’ Ad Triggers Controversy 

Hyderabad: Noted hair stylist Jawed Habib's advertisement for his salon created outrage for "insulting and demeaning" Hindu Gods. The ad shows Gods having their day at parlor with a caption which reads, "Gods too visit JH Salon'.

K. Karuna Sagar, a practicing advocate, on Thursday filed a complaint with Saidabad Police stating that the advertisement issued by Jawed Habib in a newspaper, depicting the Hindu Gods and Goddesses was "derogatory and insulting." Another complaint was lodged by a student of the University of Hyderabad against Jawed with Gachibowli Police over the same issue. He too accused Jawed of hurting his religious sentiments. Gachibowli Police Inspector S. Chandrakanth said following the complaint they made a General Diary (GD) entry and were seeking legal opinion to proceed with the case.

Sensing that the ad created a storm, Habib offered an apology over the issue through a video message on his Twitter handle. "One of our partners released the advertisement without our permission in Kolkata. Our system is through franchise and sentiments have been hurt. I have been working for 25 years. My only religion is scissor...I apologize."

Similarly, a letter was also posted on the social media handle, in the name of Jawed Habib Hair & Beauty Limited which read: "We never ever intended to hurt the sentiments of any community. It was done without our knowledge of the company by some local people in West Bengal. We undertake to remove all such advertisement material from the media. If our ad campaign had inadvertently hurt anyone's sentiments we apologize for that to the public at large," the letter added.