Priyanka Chopra Jonas was forced to issue an apology on Friday after facing extensive backlash for participating in the reality competition show, The Activist.
The reality show pitted activists against each other in front of a panel of celebrity judges. Priyanka was chosen as one of the hosts of the show.
“I have been moved by the power of your voices over the past week. At its core, Activism is fuelled by cause and effect, and when people come together to raise their voice about something, there is always an effect. You were heard,” Priyanka wrote on Instagram.
“The show got it wrong, and I’m sorry that my participation in it disappointed many of you. The intention was always to bring attention to the people behind the ideas and highlight the actions and impact of the causes they support tirelessly. I’m happy to know that in this new format, their stories will be the highlight, and I’m proud to collaborate with partners who have their ear to the ground and know when it’s time to hit pause and re-evaluate,” she continued.
“There is a global community of activists who fight every single day and put their blood, sweat and tears into creating change, but more often than not, they are rarely heard or acknowledged. Their work is so important and they too deserve to be recognised and celebrated. Thank you to each and every one of you for all that you do,” the statement concluded.
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The activists were to have been judged on the basis of their social media campaigns.
There was an instant repercussion soon after the show was unveiled. Many social media users labelled the series as ‘insensitive’ and ‘tone-deaf’, while some called the concept a ‘dystopian’ celebration of ‘Insta-activism’.
Reacting to the adverse reaction, producers CBS, partners Global Citizen and Live Nation have already announced a change in format of ‘The Activist’ to a one-time documentary instead of a five-episode competition series.
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