Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan recently signed on to be the newest spokesperson of Pan Bahar, an Indian pan masala brand.
Pan masala or “paan masala” is a mixture consisting of areca nut and spices that’s generally chewed with tobacco and/or betel leaves. According to The Washington Post, the concoction has a government-mandated warning that tells consumers that it’s “injurious to health;” it’s also worth noting that the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer says that the areca nut is carcinogenic to humans.
Brosnan appears in an ad campaign for the product that includes a video depicting him as an action star who is aided by a can of pan masala; the campaign however, has received backlash online for the suave endorsement of a product that is associated with health risks.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Cady Lang at cady.lang@timemagazine.com