Microsoft Excel mistaken for Surf Excel, receives negative reviews on Play Store

In an amusing turn of events, Microsoft Excel app is receiving negative reviews on Play Store and even accused of being “anti-Hindu”.

Surf Excel ad controversy creates confusion among users with Microsoft Excel. (Surf Excel/YouTube)

Microsoft Excel is facing the brunt in India over an advertisement by Surf Excel. Some users are posting negative reviews for Microsoft Excel on Google Play Store mistaking it for Surf Excel.

The outrage against Unilever's Surf Excel began with a TV commercial, which had a message for communal harmony. The ad received backlash and soon after, people started campaigning against the product online. The campaign started trending on Twitter with the hashtag #BoycottSurfExcel soon.

The campaign naturally moved to Play Store where people decided to downgrade the official Android app of Surf Excel. In an amusing turn of events, however, Microsoft Excel app became the target. If you check out the Microsoft Excel app on Play Store and scroll through the review section, you'll see some reviews that stand out.

Users are giving negative reviews to the wrong 'Excel' here saying that the company is "Anti-Hindu Software". One user even rated the app the lowest possible one star and directly attacked someone called "Bill Microsoft".

People give down vote Microsoft Excel application on Google Play Store (Screenshot/Play Store)

People give down vote Microsoft Excel application on Google Play Store (Screenshot/Play Store)

The confusion was soon noticed by the Twitter police and users were quick enough to get their troll guns out.

 

Remember -> Snapchat - Snapdeal.

Now -> Surf Excel - Microsoft Excel.🤦🏻‍♂️

Trolls are giving 1 star rating to MS Excel for a heart warming ad by Surf Excel that they didn't like! 🤬 pic.twitter.com/7CBMExO5Oe

— Nikhil Chawla (@nikhilchawla) March 12, 2019

 

Dont know why people are giving 1 star rating for Microsoft Excel to protest against Surf Excel ... Protesters should have some common sense..
Don't #BoycottSurfExcel@MicrosoftIndia #surfexcel pic.twitter.com/7UZZYKgphS

— Aswin M (@Aswin_M_3) March 12, 2019

 

Excuse me, Microsoft Excel and Surf Excel are both different things🧐
People are getting confuse and are writing negative comments on MS Excel app and uninstalling it. 😂😂#surfexcelad #Surf_Excel

— Vaibhav Dubey (@ivaibhavdubey) March 12, 2019

It's not the first time this kind of confusion has occurred online. Back in 2017, people went after Snapdeal confusing it for Snapchat after the CEO's remarks on India left people fuming. Similar to the Surf Excel-MS Excel incident, people started deleting Snapdeal app from their phones as a mark of solidarity.