Chris Hemsworth's new tourism ad triggers major backlash
Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky have come under fire after appearing in a major tourism campaign for Abu Dhabi.
The Aussie actor and his Spanish model wife feature both feature in the production, that shows them having an intense day on-set of a fake action movie.
While both dangling from the side of a building between takes, the duo claim they could “use a vacation about now”, before the ad showcases the best Abu Dhabi has to offer.
With their three children in tow, Hemsworth and Pataky are shown enjoying various tourist attractions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital, including open-top car rides in the desert, surfing, relaxing massages and trips to the city’s National Aquarium and theme park.
The video was posted by the official Abu Dhabi Instagram account, and quickly racked up thousands of comments from keen travellers saying the video had convinced them to book a holiday in the UAE.
However, many commenters weren't quite as happy, as hundreds of fans questioned why Hemsworth, who has an estimated net worth of $225 million, would opt to promote a tourist destination that is notorious for restricted human rights.
“Is he running out of money?” one person questioned, while another added, “Just got to ignore all the human rights abuses."
“Not much of a vacation if you’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community,” a third wrote.
“A country without women’s rights and workers’ rights. An amazing thing to promote with your huge celebrity,” a fourth added.
Abu Dhabi has a long and chequered history when it comes to human rights, with archaic laws inhibiting women’s rights, restricted freedom of speech and the continued criminalisation of homosexuality.
Image credits: Instagram