She has managed to brush off controversy more often than not. This time, Priyanka Chopra has landed herself in some murky waters.
Priyanka Chopra had sported a white vest on the cover of the sixth anniversary issue of Condé Nast Traveller’s Indian edition.
The shirt had four words on it, among which ‘refugee’, ‘immigrant’ and ‘outsider’ were struck off, with the word ‘traveller’ intact. This tee created a furore all over social media.
A stream of angry tweets followed the release of the photograph. "Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that being a refugee is a matter of choice...What were you thinking?! @CNTIndia @priyankachopra", wrote a disgruntled individual, "Since when did #PriyankaChopra Chopra, one of the world's highest paid TV actors, relate to a #refugee? @UNICEF", wrote another.
A day after the release of the photograph of Priyanka Chopra’s slogan vest the magazine Condé Nast Traveller’s Indian edition issued a winding and vague clarification.
"We believe that the opening up of borders and the breaking down of walls can help us discover the world, and open up our minds and hearts. "So, when we had actress Priyanka Chopra wear a T-shirt we created on the cover of our sixth anniversary issue, we had a point to make. And it’s not about privilege. Or fashion," stated the spokesperson of the magazine on Tuesday. "We are allowing thousands of innocent people who are forced to cross borders due to unimaginable terror and atrocities to be treated without humanity and empathy. " said the defensive magazine. "It’s about how we are allowing some powerful leaders to build barriers that make it more difficult for bright, motivated and hardworking people to see more of the world, learn from it and make it better for us all,” they added.
Priyanka Chopra also came to the defence of the magazine, as she decided to justify her actions to NDTV India. "They (Condé Nast) specially got this (t-shirt) made and implored me to wear it.
They said they were addressing xenophobia which is a big issue that is happening. So their idea was that. And I bought into it, I guess. And I am really, really apologetic about the fact that sentiments were hurt … The point the magazine wanted to make was actually something good", said she.
