A breast cancer awareness campaign displayed in the Delhi Metro has ignited controversy for referring to breasts as ‘oranges,’ as per reports.
The poster, part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, features AI-generated women holding oranges with the caption urging women to “check your oranges once a month” for early detection of lumps. The campaign was created by YouWeCan Foundation, a non-profit founded by cricketer Yuvraj Singh.
Critics online have labelled the ad as inappropriate and insensitive.
A Delhi Metro passenger shared a photo on social media, criticizing the campaign for failing to use the word “breasts” directly. “How will a country raise Breast Cancer Awareness if we can’t even call breasts what they are?” the user wrote, tagging Yuvraj Singh and urging the removal of the campaign.
In addition to online outrage, a prominent doctor from Chennai condemned the ad for sexualizing the health condition, stressing the importance of using correct medical terminology when discussing breast cancer.
Many on social media echoed these concerns, arguing that the vague language trivializes a serious health issue. One user pointed out that using clear, straightforward language would have been more effective in raising awareness.
Despite the backlash, some defended the campaign, stating that its intention was to create an eye-catching message to spark conversation about breast health.
In response, YouWeCan acknowledged the feedback, explaining that while the choice of “oranges” was bold, it was meant to break the silence surrounding breast cancer discussions.