Usher, Priyanka Chopra, & Julianne Hough’s Competition Series ‘The Activist’ Will Now Be A Docu After Backlash

Usher, Priyanka Chopra, & Julianne Hough’s Competition Series ‘The Activist’ Will Now Be A Docu After Backlash

Update #1 (Sept. 16th): The premise for CBS’ controversial series ‘The Activist’ is getting a makeover after major criticism.

‘The Activsit’, which was initially scheduled to premiere on Oct. 22 has been given a new date and will no longer be a competition series.

Instead, CBS, producers Global Citizen and Live Nation said it will now be a “documentary special” in a joint statement released recently. They added,

“[I]t has become apparent the format of the show as announced distracts from the vital work these incredible activists do in their communities every day. The push for global change is not a competition and requires a global effort.”

The full statement reads:

“The Activist was designed to show a wide audience the passion, long hours, and ingenuity that activists put into changing the world, hopefully inspiring others to do the same.

However, it has become apparent the format of the show as announced distracts from the vital work these incredible activists do in their communities every day. The push for global change is not a competition and requires a global effort.

As a result, we are changing the format to remove the competitive element and reimagining the concept into a primetime documentary special (air date to be announced). It will showcase the tireless work of six activists and the impact they have advocating for causes they deeply believe in. Each activist will be awarded a cash grant for the organization of their choice, as was planned for the original show.

Activists and community leaders around the world work every day, often without fanfare, to advance protections for people, communities, and our planet. We hope that by showcasing their work we will inspire more people to become more involved in addressing the world’s most pressing issues. We look forward to highlighting the mission and lives of each of these incredible people.

Global Citizen also said in a solo statement:

“Global activism centers on collaboration and cooperation, not competition. We apologize to the activists, hosts, and the larger activist community — we got it wrong. It is our responsibility to use this platform in the most effective way to realize change and elevate the incredible activists dedicating their lives to progress all around the world.”

Julianne Hough also released a lengthy statement on Instagram.

Original Story: Usher, Priyanka Chopra, and Julianne Hough are trending on social media after an announcement of their new competition series on CBS, but not for the reason you may think.

According to reports, ‘The Activist,’ is a new competition show that will follow six inspiring activists teamed with three high-profiled public figures to bring change to important causes like health, education, and environment. The activist will go head-to-head in challenges to support their causes and their success will be based on online engagement, social metrics, and the input of the host.

However, following the announcement, many were not moved by the new show and immediately took to social media to express their disappointment. See some reactions below.

Some social media users were intrigued.

i kinda liked the idea, wanna see how it's gonna turn out…. fuck twitter. #TheActivist pic.twitter.com/Rafp0dVIc5

— kraz ? (@jungIibiIIi) September 9, 2021

The competition, which is considered a ‘first of its kind’, is produced by Global Citizen, the international education and advocacy organization working to catalyze the movement to end extreme poverty. On the show producer, Jack Sussman said,

“The audience will see the Activists’ passion and commitment for their causes tested as they peition world leaders to take urgent action to resolve the interconnected crisies we face.” 

He also added,

“The Activist is a ground-breaking series poised to inspire viewers. We’re thrilled to have Usher, Priyanka, and Julianne as part of the series, guiding our CBS audience through the journeys of passionate changemakers from around the world.” 

The five-week competition is set to air on Friday, October 22nd, 2021 on CBS.

How do you feel about the new competition show? Tell us in the comments. 

VIA