It started with a bowl of food cream and a can of Milkmaid. What followed was the kind of moment social media rarely produces — a celebrity who got called out, listened, and actually said sorry. Swara Bhasker’s Iftaar video sparked a Nestle boycott debate this week, but it’s her response that’s worth the conversation.
Swara Bhasker’s Iftaar Video Triggers Nestle Boycott Debate
Swara Bhasker shared a series of Iftaar preparation stories on social media, walking her followers through a simple recipe using Nestle Milkmaid. For most viewers, it was a casual festive post. For a growing section of her audience, it was a contradiction they couldn’t scroll past.
Nestle has featured prominently on boycott lists circulated by supporters of the Palestinian cause, as part of the broader BDS — Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions — movement. The movement, which has seen significant traction on Indian social media since the escalation of the Gaza conflict in late 2023, urges consumers to avoid brands perceived as having financial or ideological ties to Israel. Comments on Swara’s post flagged the product almost immediately.
“I Didn’t Remember” — Swara Addresses the Criticism Head-On
Rather than quietly delete the post or let the moment pass, Swara Bhasker returned with a follow-up video. Candid, unscripted, and notably without publicist polish.
“I posted a couple of stories of my Iftaar preparation, which is the only thing I know how to do, which is make food cream, and of course I looked at some of your responses, and I noticed that a lot of you pointed out that Nestle is on the boycott list because of Palestine and their Zionist connections, and that I was using Nestle Milkmaid, and to be honest, I didn’t remember, and it didn’t strike me,” she said directly to camera.
She didn’t stop at the apology. Swara reaffirmed her position on BDS — a stance she’s been vocal about — while being unusually honest about the gap between belief and practice. “I am a big advocate of BDS and I try hard to practice it as much as I can, and especially look at the personal products we use. But I do struggle with some of them. I’m still learning.”
That last line landed differently than a standard celebrity mea culpa. It was specific. It was human.
Why This Moment Is Bigger Than One Video
Here’s what doesn’t get written enough: consistent ethical consumption is genuinely hard. Nestle’s portfolio spans hundreds of products across categories — from coffee and dairy to infant nutrition and pet food. Even dedicated BDS practitioners routinely discover a boycotted brand buried in their kitchen. The movement itself acknowledges this, emphasising intent and community accountability over purity policing.
What Swara’s response modelled, perhaps unintentionally, is exactly what BDS advocates argue should happen — not cancellation, but correction. A follower flags a contradiction. The public figure acknowledges it. The community moves forward. The system, for once, worked.
This also arrives in a moment where Bollywood’s relationship with the Palestine cause remains conspicuously quiet. Most celebrities in the industry have avoided any public position. Swara has been among the rare exceptions — which is precisely why her audience holds her to a higher standard, and precisely why her response carried weight.
Fans Rally Behind Her Honest Acknowledgement
The comments section after her follow-up video told its own story. Criticism from the original post gave way to something warmer.
“You are an inspiration, Swara! Love you,” wrote one user. Another said, “The very definition of trying to do better is this honest conversation. Kudos.” Others added, “We all make mistakes — thanks for being an advocate!!!” and “Appreciate your gesture. God bless you.”
Not every comment was forgiving — some users felt the original oversight was inexcusable for someone with Swara’s stated activist profile. But the dominant tone was one of appreciation, not outrage. That shift is worth noting.
Public accountability, when met with genuine acknowledgement rather than PR deflection, tends to land differently. Even on the internet.
Swara Bhasker won’t be the last public figure to accidentally use a boycotted product. But how she handled it sets a template most celebrities would benefit from studying — especially those who’ve built their brand on causes they’re not yet ready to be held accountable for.
