Judging the doers for TRP?

na

Called ‘Philantainment’ and charged of ‘monetising, commodifying and trivialising’ activism, the new reality series The Activist has drawn ire globally. Priyanka Chopra, who along with Usher and Julianne Hough was to team up with the activists for this show, has become the target of trolls.

All phoney, or capable of some real change, social media activism, a relatively new phenomenon, has been questioned once again. So much so that CBS had to reformat the show as a documentary.

While the pandemic saw the rise of real heroes – Sonu Sood leading from the front, and many joining him on digital platforms. Richa Chadha backed The KINDry, a digital platform that brought to front real stars whose selfless help made all the difference in the pandemic-stricken world. Priyanka Chopra too raised funds for India to fight the Covid challenges.

Alongside were those sharing tons of pictures while donating 10 ration kits to the needy. They were charged of dehumanising those in need to gain some limelight. The Activist brings back the debate – can change-makers be pitted against each other and judged on their online engagement? Priyanka Chopra issued an apology after American dancer, actress, singer and songwriter Julianne Hough admitted ‘judging aspect of the show missed the mark’.

“At the core, activism is fuelled by cause and effect, and when the people come together to raise their voice about something, there is always an effect. You were heard,” said Priyanka Chopra.

“I’m happy to know that in this new format, their stories will be the highlight, and I’m proud to collaborate with the partners who have their ear to the ground and know when it’s time to hit the pause button and re-evaluate,” she added.