Latest news with #AprilFool'sDay
News18
4 days ago
- Business
- News18
Starbucks Breaks Silence On Dolly Chaiwala Brand Ambassador Reports With A ‘No'
Last Updated: Viral April Fool's meme featuring Dolly Chaiwala sparked brand ambassador rumours following which Tata Starbucks issued an official clarification. Tata Starbucks has officially denied appointing viral tea seller Dolly Chaiwala as their brand ambassador following a surge of social media posts claiming otherwise. The confusion stemmed from a meme posted as an April Fool's Day prank, which many netizens took seriously, leading to widespread speculation of a supposed partnership. The coffeehouse and roastery reserve, in their statement on LinkedIn, wrote that Starbucks India does not have any brand ambassadors. In particular, they clarified that no collaboration has been made with Dolly Chaiwala. 'We would like to clarify that TATA Starbucks does not have any official brand ambassadors in India. Specifically, we have not entered into any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala," the brand wrote in their post on LinkedIn. Tata Starbucks has clarified that it has no association with viral tea seller Dolly Chaiwala, following a wave of social media buzz sparked by an April Fool's Day meme. The meme, which showed Dolly—real name Sunil Patil—posing in front of a photoshopped Starbucks logo, falsely claimed he was appointed as the brand's ambassador in India. In an official statement shared on LinkedIn, the company said the image was independently created and 'misconstrued" as part of a formal campaign. They stressed that Tata Starbucks does not have any brand ambassadors in India and reaffirmed their commitment to 'accuracy, authenticity, and the trust of our customers and communities." The rumour reportedly began after a social media user shared the meme without context, leading many to believe the claim was legitimate. Soon, the image went viral, with thousands resharing it across platforms. Dolly Chaiwala, a popular tea vendor from Nagpur, is known for his flamboyant personality and theatrical tea-making style, which has made him a social media sensation. Dolly Chaiwala became the brand ambassador of Starbucks India — Dixit Dave (@dixit_dave_) April 1, 2025 Who Is Dolly Chaiwala? Dolly Chaiwala is a well-known street tea vendor from Nagpur with his unique outfit — waistcoats, gold chains, unmistakable hairstyles, and large sunglasses. His attitude and theatrics while serving customers have made him the centrepiece of social media viral content in India. His celebrity status grew when Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates made an unexpected visit to his stall last year, where he served Gates tea which attracted international attention. First Published:
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Dolly Chaiwala is Starbucks' new brand ambassador? Company denies viral claim
Social media has been flooded with posts linking Dolly Chaiwala to Starbucks. Many claimed that the coffee chain giant appointed the internet sensation as their brand ambassador in India. The company, however, issued a clarification, stating that it has not 'entered any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala.' 'In light of recent conversations, we'd like to clarify that TATA Starbucks has no official brand ambassador in India,' Starbucks India posted on LinkedIn. 'CLARIFICATION REGARDING REPORTS OF STARBUCKS BRAND AMBASSADOR. We have noted recent social media posts suggesting that TATA Starbucks has appointed an official brand ambassador. We would like to clarify that TATA Starbucks does not have any official brand ambassadors in India. Specifically, we have not entered any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala,' the company stated. 'A meme, created independently by a third party, appears to have been misconstrued as a formal campaign. TATA Starbucks is committed to communicating with accuracy and authenticity and we value the trust of our customers and communities,' it continued. It all started with a meme created as an April Fool's Day prank. In the post, a social media user claimed that Starbucks has decided that Dolly Chaiwala (Sunil Patil) will be appointed as their formal brand ambassador. It didn't take long for people to reshare the post without verifying the fact, creating an online buzz that was finally addressed by the company. Dolly Chaiwala became an internet sensation for making tea in his unique style. Hailing from Nagpur, he is usually seen dressed in a waistcoat, large sunglasses, and gold chains around his neck. He also often sports a unique hairstyle. Last year, Dolly Chaiwala triggered a social media frenzy when Bill Gates visited his shop to drink tea prepared by him.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Starbucks spills the tea on viral meme, denies collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala: 'No official brand ambassador in India'
Tata Starbucks on Monday, June 16, issued an official statement denying widespread rumours and ongoing speculations on social media suggesting the appointment of Dolly Chaiwala (real name is Sunil Patil), who is a popular tea vendor and internet sensation. Amid the growing rumours, the company issued a statement saying that there is no such partnership that exists, as per the narrative that emerged from a viral meme that has been misinterpreted as a formal endorsement. The confusion appears to have stemmed from a viral meme created by a third party that led to a 'misconstrued formal campaign'. Dolly Chaiwala became the brand ambassador of Starbucks India — Dixit Dave (@dixit_dave_) April 1, 2025 Starbucks denied any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala Starbucks, in a public statement, denied any collaboration with Sunil Patel, popularly known as Dolly Chaiwala. In the post, the company wrote, "We have noted recent social media posts suggesting that TATA Starbucks has appointed an official brand ambassador. We would like to clarify that TATA Starbucks does not have any official brand ambassadors in India. Specifically, we have not entered into any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala." Credit: LinkedIn The clarification comes in the wake of rumoured social media memes and digital articles claiming that Dolly Chaiwala, whose real name is Sunit Patil, had been officially appointed by the famous coffee brand. What really happened? According to the company, the claims regarding Dolly Chaiwala being the brand ambassador of TATA Starbucks India surfaced on social media from an April Fool's Day prank. The post was posted by an influencer called Aditya Oza. The post used a photoshopped picture of Dolly Chaiwala, and as soon as the fictional narrative dropped on the internet, it quickly went viral and instantly became a part of meme pages. However, many on social media pointed out that the image is fake. But now clarifying this, the company said, 'Tata Starbucks is committed to communicating with accuracy and authenticity, and we value the trust of our customers and communities." Who is Dolly Chaiwala? Sunil Patil, also famously known as Dolly Chaiwala, is a tea seller from Nagpur who gained massive fame and became an internet sensation when his flamboyant tea-making style went viral after serving it to an American businessman and philanthropist, Bill Gates. Most recently, Patil also appeared on Indian reality shows, including Bigg Boss 18. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
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First Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Yunus's election promise is 'making April Fool of Bangladeshi people': Hasina
Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina issued yet another provocative statment, accusing interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus of 'fooling the country' with the promise of holding elections by 2026 read more Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina slammed the country's interim Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, dismissing his pledge to hold elections by April 2026 . In her audio message to her supporters, Hasina reiterated that Yunus is 'selling the country and making money out of it'. Yunus took the task of rebuilding Bangladesh after a violent protest toppled the Sheikh Hasina government. However, several parties in Bangladesh have called out the Nobel laureate for not conducting the elections by 2025. While Yunus argued that he needs to usher in reforms before holding polls, his critics claim that he is trying to delay elections to stay in power. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In her address to her party, Awami League, Hasina said that Yunus is plotting to fool the country on April Fool's Day. The remarks from the former Bangladeshi premier came days after Yunus announced that he plans to hold elections by April 2026. 'I did not sell the country. Yunus is selling the country and making money. This government is backed by Jamaat [Jamaat-e-Islami]. They don't have the guts to fight me,' Hasina said in her audio message, which was shared by her party, Awami League. 'They have said the election will take place in April. This is nothing but the plot of making an April Fool's joke,' she explained. In her 1-hour-long audio message, Hasina frequently referred to Yunus as 'radical and extremists'. She even slammed ex-PM Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), accusing them of looting the country. 'I will be back': Hasina In her statement to her party and supporters, Hasina pointed out the atrocities committed against the people of Bangladesh under Yunus's regime. 'Yunus is committing murders and members of the Awami League are getting prosecuted,' she exclaimed, commenting on how every member of her family is facing legal charges in the country. 'BNP is busy looting the people and Jamaat is busy killing and getting its people inside the government,' she remarked. In her message to the supporters, Hasina pledged to return to the country and shared her vision of a 'Smart Bangladesh by 2041'. 'I will come back, the country will stand again, and we will free our nation from these radicals for the good of the people,' she said. Hasina slammed the Yunus government for banning her party Awami League , from contesting in the polls. She even gave an open challenge to the current regime to put the party on the ballot. 'If they want to hold polls, allow us to contest. Let's see who the people of Bangladesh want. But they won't do that because they don't have the guts to fight against us,' she added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India dismisses Yunus's request to stop Hasina from making statements Interestingly, Hasina's address to her supporters came shortly after Yunus claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ignored his request to stop the ex-Bangladeshi premier from making political statements while in India. Yunus was sharing his takeaways from a meeting with PM Modi while speaking at the Chatham House in London. He pledged to continue with his efforts to extradite Hasina from India so that she can face looming charges against her in Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal, which recently indicted her for ordering a police crackdown on protestors last year. 'When I had a chance to speak with Prime Minister Modi, I simply said, 'You want to host her — I cannot force you to abandon that policy. But please help us ensure that she does not address the Bangladeshi people the way she currently is,'' Yunus said while addressing the audience at the London-based think tank. Yunus mentioned that he requested his meeting with PM Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok this April. 'She announces that she will speak on a particular day and at a particular time, and the whole of Bangladesh becomes very angry." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Modi's answer — and I quote — was: 'It is social media; we cannot control it.' What can you say? This is an explosive situation, and you can't simply walk away by saying it's social media. Yet this continues,' Yunus furthered. India is yet to respond to Yunus's accusations.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Newsmax Stock: A Cautionary Tale for IPO Investors?
Newsmax conducted its initial public offering at the end of March. Its share price has seen massive upward and downward movements. Investors can glean important lessons. 10 stocks we like better than Newsmax › Initial public offerings (IPOs) can get a lot of attention from the press and investors. This is the first time the public can buy shares in a company, and the share price can move up or down quickly. Newsmax (NYSE: NMAX) completed its IPO at the end of March. In the company's short life as a public company, the share price has been on a wild ride. It's good to take a look at the events and glean lessons. Perhaps it can even serve as a cautionary tale for the next flashy IPO that captures people's attention. Newmax's IPO raised $75 million by selling 7.5 million shares at $10. However, most investors weren't able to purchase shares at that price. On the stock's first day of trading, the share price shot up to close at $83.51. The following day, April Fool's Day, the shares closed at $233. There's no reliable way to predict short-term share price movements, however. Those who feared missing out and jumped in at these elevated prices have seen a massive downslide. The share price closed at $16.19 on June 5. A key lesson is not to buy into a stock's hype merely because the price has gone up a lot. Granted, it's not easy to ignore the hype and massive price movements. However, the best investing strategy is to look at the business and assess its long-term prospects. A media company, Newsmax generated more than three-quarters of its revenue from its broadcasting business. This includes cable channels and a streaming service that produces news and other content. Newsmax has a history of producing losses, however. Last year, the company lost $72.2 million compared to losses of $30.4 million and $41.8 million in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The wider losses came despite revenue increasing from $35.7 million to $171 million during this time. The company reported first-quarter results in May that showed a $17.2 million loss. Granted, it's heading in the right direction since that's narrower than the $50.7 million loss a year ago. While it's positive to produce revenue gains, profitability is what counts. When looking at newly public companies, ideally, investors should see them operating in the black. That's particularly true for Newsmax given it faces large and well-entrenched competitors. Newsmax currently has a $1.5 billion market capitalization. However, when the stock price reached $233, its market cap was about $21 billion. That might not mean much in isolation. But putting the figure into context could send a warning signal. Since the company doesn't report a profit, investors can't use the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. However, you can look at price-to-sales (P/S). Newmax's 2024 sales were $171 million in 2024. Dividing the $21 billion market cap by the sales figure equals a P/S multiple of 122 after its second day of trading. The company's revenue grew by 26% in 2024, but that valuation still seems excessive. The shares currently trade at a P/S ratio of 9. The Russell 2000 index, which encompasses small capitalization stocks, typically has a P/S ratio of about 1 to 2. There should be a compelling reason why a stock has a so much higher valuation than the benchmark index. It's natural to forget about unpleasant experiences. But you need to remember so you can learn and become better-educated investors. The next time you hear about a high-flying IPO, think about Newsmax and whether people are making short-term trades or investing because they believe the company has strong long-term fundamentals. After all, it's wise to think about investing as a marathon rather than a sprint. Before you buy stock in Newsmax, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Newsmax wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 173% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Lawrence Rothman, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Newsmax Stock: A Cautionary Tale for IPO Investors? was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
