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Indian Brands Flood Feeds With Faux ‘Official Apology’ Ads

Marketers tout the tongue-in-cheek posts as humanising, with critics warning of diluted accountability.

Overview

  • Skoda, T-Series, Reliance Digital, Adani Ambuja Cement, Haldiram's, Keventers, Volkswagen Downtown Mumbai and chef Ranveer Brar joined the wave of playful apology posts.
  • The campaign-style creatives mimic formal corporate mea culpas with letterhead designs, serious tones and subject lines such as “Re: Unintended Customer Delight.”
  • Adani Ambuja Cement’s viral note joked that its product left customers unable to drill holes or hammer nails into their walls.
  • The format has surged across India in recent weeks after social posts suggested it first surfaced in the Philippines last year.
  • Supporters say the meme humanises brands and drives shareable engagement, while detractors argue that using apology language for promotion erodes expectations for real accountability.