OYO Mocks Hindu Beliefs for Profit, Faces Massive Public Backlash

Nowadays, the hate against Hindus has been normalised so much so that the big buisnesses too are using it to get a push. OYO Rooms, the hospitality startup led by Ritesh Aggarwal, has landed in controversy for an insensitive and outrageous advertisement that has angered Hindus across India. The company, which is notorious for its marketing gimmicks, published a half-page advertisement in a Hindi daily featuring the phrase “Bhagwan Har Jagah Hai” (God is everywhere), followed by “Aur OYO bhi” (And so is OYO). This blasphemous comparison between a profit-driven company and Bhagwan has rightfully provoked massive backlash, exposing OYO’s complete lack of respect for religious sentiments of Hindus.

By deliberately associating itself with Bhagwan, the company has crossed a moral and ethical line, turning religious faith into a cheap promotional tool. Given OYO’s past image of catering to unmarried couples and casual relationships, the comparison to Bhagwan is not only offensive but also highly inappropriate. The company’s decision to mock religious sentiments of Hindus for commercial gain shows a complete disregard for the values and beliefs of millions of Hindus.

Unsurprisingly, Hindus have expressed fury over the advertisement, condemning it as an insult to faith. Many Hindu organizations are reportedly preparing for protests and legal action, seeing the ad as a direct affront to Hindu religious values. According to reports from Bharat Samachar, protests may soon erupt against OYO for this disgraceful act.

Social media is also witnessing a storm of criticism against OYO, with thousands of users calling out the company’s lack of ethics. Twitter (now X) has been flooded with posts slamming OYO’s marketing team. The fact that the company has resorted to offending religious sentiments to stay relevant speaks volumes about its declining credibility.

This controversy comes at a time when OYO has been desperately trying to change its public image. Once infamous for being a go-to place for unmarried couples, the company has recently been attempting to position itself as “family-friendly.” It even launched a video campaign targeting families to erase the perception that OYO is primarily for couples. Additionally, the company introduced policies allowing partner hotels to refuse rooms to unmarried couples, attempting to cater to conservative audiences.

However, this latest blunder undoes all of OYO’s so-called efforts. The very audience it was trying to attract traditional, family-oriented customers is now the one deeply offended by its irresponsible marketing. Instead of rebranding itself as a respectable hospitality company, OYO has further alienated itself by playing with religious beliefs of Hindus. 

Amid the backlash, OYO has maintained a shocking silence. Instead of issuing an apology or removing the advertisement, the company has chosen to ignore the outrage. This lack of accountability further proves that OYO is only interested in profits, regardless of how offensive or unethical its tactics may be.