Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky slammed for starring in controversial new tourism ad: 'Just ignore the human rights abuses'

Chris Hemsworth and wife Elsa Pataky kicked up controversy on Tuesday when they starred in a tourism advertisement for Abu Dhabi. 

The couple filmed a high-budget flick for the United Arab Emirates capital but were slammed by fans concerned about 'human rights abuses' in the country. 

Some brutally accused the Thor star, 41, and his Spanish wife, 48, on Instagram of taking 'blood-soaked advertising money' and told them to 'do better'.    

'Just got to ignore all the human rights abuses,' one person said of their post, as another wrote: 'A commercial for a state with few human rights?'

'You are a great family, so why don't you use your reach for something meaningful?' a third added.

'How lovely. A country without women's rights and workers' rights. An amazing thing to promote with your huge celebrity [status],' someone else commented.

One user noted: 'Not much of a vacation if you're a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.'

'Yo, Thor, you made like a gazillion marvel dollars. Do you really need blood-soaked, advertising money?' a follower wrote.

'O dear, no! Just no! Do better,' someone else added, as one commented: 'Is he running out of money?'

UAE has long been criticised for its human rights abuses, including against women and the LGBTQIA+ community.  

According to AMERA International, a website for refugee legal aid resources, the UAE Penal Code says any sexual acts outside of heterosexual marriage carry a penalty of a minimum one-year 'confinement'.

However, it goes on to say: 'The Arabic of article 354 is written in such a way that it could be taken as condemning all male homosexual intercourse to the death penalty or only forced male homosexual intercourse.

'Amnesty International interprets the article as condemning perpetrators of rape of both men and women to death, but it can also be translated: "Whoever commits rape on a female or sodomy with a male."'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Chris and Elsa's representatives for comment.

The advertisement the couple shared to Instagram saw the pair running alongside each other on what appeared to be an action film set. 

As they leapt from a skyscraper onto a hanging platform, Chris appeared to cling to his wife's legs before daydreaming about going on a holiday.

'Could really use a vacation right now,' the Hollywood star mused as Elsa struggled to hold him up while they hung in the air. 

'Somewhere warm, adventurous, with fun activities for the kids,' he continued as he began to daydream about the couple and their twin boys on holiday in Abu Dhabi.

What followed were clips of Chris, Elsa and their youngest children, Tristan and Sasha, 10, going horse riding and driving dune buggies through the desert.

They could be seen enjoying a myriad of other fun activities in the advertisement, including surfing, racecar driving, and visiting a theme park and aquarium.

'Something more relaxing, too?' Elsa said in a hilarious shot which showed her still out of breath as she held up Chris. 

The Fast and Furious star was then shown enjoying a relaxing massage and a calm kayak trip with her family before visiting a museum.   

It follows Chris sharing a rare health update after revealing that his career could be 'killing' him earlier this year.

The Thor star is working with Dr. Adeel Khan, a global leader in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy.

'Really enjoyed meeting Dr. Khan. His work with MUSE cells—an incredible type of regenerative stem cell—is unique,' Chris wrote on Instagram Saturday.

Dr. Kahn, who posed for a picture with Chris, has treated Royal families, celebrities like Zac Efron and Justin Baldoni, and elite athletes with his cutting-edge stem cell therapy.

Muse cells, which are found in the bone marrow and connective tissue of nearly every organ, have a tremendous capacity to function as restoring cells for a wide range of tissues and organs.

They are able to recognise damaged tissue and selectively accumulate at the site of the damage by intravenous injection.

In May, it was reported beloved actor Chris was filming the Limitless series in 2022 when he found out he is 'between eight and 10 times' likelier to develop Alzheimer's than the general population.

Shortly after the news broke, Chris took a step back from Hollywood to focus on his health and spend more time with his family.