Sure, we’ll admit that posing with the Shell Mineral Water Lady can be fun, but there’s a limit for everything!
Unfortunately, these Malaysians overstepped that limit recently when photos of them posing suggestively with the Mineral Water Lady’s cut-out started circulating on Facebook recently.
Some of them posed more innocently and comically with the cut-out, like ‘pinching’ her nose and covering her eyes, or simply posing next to it.
Source: Facebook
However, others took things a little too far with the cut-out, pretending to kiss her and even grope her breasts! Okay, that’s not cool!
Source: Facebook
Many Malaysians came out in her defense, calling their behaviour disrespectful and just downright mean.
Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook
Now, even the Mineral Water Lady herself, Nor Shafila Khairusalleh has spoken about the inappropriate photos. She told mStar,
“If they did things like putting their hands over the eyes, pulling at the nose or hugging the cut-out, I can still accept that because it’s just a poster.”
“But I think it is going overboard if it points towards sexual behaviour.”
“They might just be messing around, but I feel humiliated although it’s just a cut-out of me.”
Source: Facebook
The 25-year-old Shell station manager from Perak said her husband was also not comfortable looking at the photos. Shafila continued,
“They’re just pictures, so I can’t be very angry. I just hope that no one takes such pictures again. You can joke, but don’t turn it into something negative.”
Source: Facebook
Since the inappropriate photos started to circulate, many have urged her to file a police report against the men in the pictures. Shafila stated that she will consider doing that if their behaviour continues.
Update: According to the Malay Mail, Shell has now decided to take down all cardboard cut-outs due to the inappropriate photos circulating online, calling them “distasteful”.
“We do not condone this disrespectful act, which is completely against the culture of Malaysians and Shell’s core values. We urge netizens and members of the public to refrain from sharing these images further.”
“The standee will be removed from all our sites with immediate effect.”
Honestly, when it comes to joking around, there’s always a line nobody should cross. We hope those men have learnt their lesson from this!
Also read: Shell’s ‘Mineral Water Lady’ Shares Her Inspiring Story in Viral Video
