Alia Bhatt’s latest fashion choice has Reddit up in arms. Spotted carrying a pricey Gucci bag to promote the brand, investigators soon discovered it was made of calf leather – a material sourced from vulnerable young cows.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the actress, coming so soon after she backed the series Poacher on Prime. Touted as raising awareness of the illegal ivory trade harming elephants, the show’s message of conservation rang hollow for critics.
Comments exploded with accusations of hypocrisy. As one pointed out, Alia – no mere influencer – surely had the clout to request alternative materials from Gucci. Choosing calf leather smacks of activism for acclaim, not a conviction.
Others noted the irony of crusading for elephants’ plight yet ignored the similar suffering of cows. Some even questioned all celebrities who ‘co-exist’ for cameras but condone cruelty with lifestyle choices.
At Poacher’s launch, Alia had waxed poetic on the project’s “heart and genuineness”. But flaunting the disputed bag so brazenly betrayed a lack of thought – or care – for consistent values.
With stardom comes influence and the onus to practice what you preach. By failing on this front, Alia has damaged her credibility and given ammunition to cynics tired of rich people cherry-picking causes.
