Actor Mehwish Hayat, who recently spoke about the negative stereotypes against Muslims perpetuated in Hollywood and Bollywood isn’t done giving Priyanka Chopra a piece of her mind.
At a Beauty Con last week, Chopra was called out for her pro-war tweet by Ayesha Malik, a young woman from Pakistan who was not afraid to say, “You are a UNICEF ambassador for peace and you are encouraging nuclear war against Pakistan.”
Instead of a legitimate response, Chopra was condescending, saying, “Whenever you’re done venting. Got it, done? Okay cool.” This was after security snatched the mic from Malik.
“Girl, don’t yell, we’re all here for love. You’re embarrassing yourself,” said Chopra to the mic-less young woman.
Chopra has since drawn criticism for her response and reaction, with the latest being Mehwish. The Load Wedding star pemned an open letter for CNN, calling out faux celebrity activism and the responsibility that comes from an influential position.
“Chopra’s response to her questioner in LA, as well as the February tweet, did have the effect of both shining a light on the crisis in Kashmir, and forcing many of us to think about celebrity activism, its uses — and its abuses.”
She added, “Celebrities who act as charity spokespeople should always focus on humanitarianism. Chopra — again, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador — should not be using her voice to legitimise a regime opposed to the values she claims to represent.”
“Rather than use her position as a US-based celebrity to broaden what it means to be an Indian celebrity, she has fallen into the same jingoistic role that her fellow countrymen are forced to adopt at home.”
She went on to say, “It’s this kind of failure that tempts many observers to insist that celebrities stay out of politics completely. Just look at the damage those ill-informed starlets can cause, they say, wading into issues they know nothing about. They should shut up and stick to entertaining us — in silence”
Mehwish also spoke about her struggles with using influence to unite rather than divide and picking her battles carefully.
“This is where Priyanka Chopra and others have made a mistake: by lending their name to racism dressed up as patriotism, they have done us all a disservice.”
According to Mehwish. “It is human suffering that those with a platform must focus on. It also falls on other film industries, including my own in Pakistan, to counter the negative stereotypes pumped out in Bollywood… That might be less lucrative or effortless than the alternative, but it is what humanity needs to see — on screen, and on the streets.”
“It is something I would love to work with my Indian colleagues on — including Priyanka Chopra.”
