PremiumThe Activist: After Julianne Hough, Priyanka Chopra also issues apology for involvement on CBS show
The makers initially conceived the show as a reality competition, but recently changed the activism based series format to documentary special amid a widespread public backlash.
Last Updated: 12.59 PM, Sep 17, 2021
Following The Activist co-host Julianne Hough, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has now issued a public apology for her participation in the controversial CBS series. The series had a concept of an activism-based reality competition which led to hue and cry across the globe by activists and viewers alike. The makers have now changed the format to a documentary.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who is set to co-host the show with Usher and Julianne Hough took to social media to issue an apology, which stated that she ‘heard’ and had been ‘moved’ by the people’s voices, acknowledging that the show had indeed been wrong. Saying that she was sorry for disappointing people with her participation for the same, the actress also expressed her happiness on the show’s new format. Instead of making the activists compete against each other, the show will now highlight their individual stories.
Earlier, her co-host and the show's makers had issued an apology. The Activist’s producers Global Citizen and Live Nation had issued a statement outlining their regret and apologising to viewers for their lapse of judgement. They also announced that the show’s format would be changed from reality competition to documentary special. They had also mentioned that each participating activist would receive a cash grant. Julianne Hough had also apologised, saying that she had listened to viewers' concerns, elaborating on the reason she had agreed to do the show.
The Activist was originally announced as a five-week-long reality series that would see six activists team up with known public figures to generate funds and enhance awareness for their respective causes. Among other things, their impact was planned to be measured using social media traction. This premise had drawn flak from the global activism community, who called the show 'performative' and 'exploitative'.