Yahoo Finance Priyanka Chopra Jonas apologises following backlash over involvement in The Activist
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has said CBS's reality TV show, The Activist "got it wrong" and has apologised for her planned role as a judge.
Originally, The Activist was framed a challenge show for people involved in health, education and environmental issues to win a place at the G20 summit.
The show would have features six inspiring activists – teamed with three "high-profile public figures" – working together to bring "meaningful change" to one of three important world causes, according to Deadline.
However, the Quantico actress, 39, apologised for the show's format after it faced backlash for trivialising activism.
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On September 9, it was announced Chopra Jonas would co-host the Global Citizen series with singer Usher and dance professional Julianne Hough.
When accusations of encouraging "performative activism" escalated across social media, however, she was sorry that her "participation" in the show disappointed her fans, and took to Instagram to reassure those who voiced their concerns were "heard".
In a note posted to her 68.2 million Instagram followers, Chopra Jonas said: "I have been moved by the power of your voices over the past week.
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"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," she emphasised.
"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.
She concluded: "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."
Jameela Jamil and Naomi Klein were among some celebrities who also criticised the proposed format.
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Following initial backlash on social media last week, Global Citizen said in a statement to Deadline: "The Activist spotlights individuals who've made it their life's work to change the world for the better, as well as the incredible and often challenging work they do on the ground in their communities.
"This is not a reality show to trivialise activism. On the contrary, our aim is to support activists everywhere, show the ingenuity and dedication they put into their work, and amplify their causes to an even wider audience."
To quell ongoing concerns, however, the show, which has already been filmed will now be remade as a documentary, with the same activists who took part in the reality show format.
The Activist premieres on October 22 at 8PM on CBS in the US. Air dates in the UK have not been announced.
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