Apart from being a talented actress, Priyanka Chopra is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. In the month of May, she visited many Ethiopian refugee camps and schools to interact with the people there. She also shared with the world the inspiring story of 15-year-old Hasina and how she escaped child marriage.
However, a particular tweet of hers post Indian air-strikes in Balakot has received criticism online.
Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces 🇮🇳 🙏🏽
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) February 26, 2019
According to News18, the main point of contention people have is that Priyanka appreciated military action instead of sharing a message for peace and friendship. After her tweet, a few had started an online petition asking the UN to reconsider her Ambassador status. Furthermore, when the superstar was at Beautycon in Los Angeles, the matter came up once again.
An audience member named Ayesha Malik questioned her about the tweet and called her a hypocrite.
Priyanka Chopra tweeted during a time when we were this 👌🏽 close to sending nukes to one another. Instead of advocating for peace she tweeted in support of the Indian army pic.twitter.com/LhbMkOW59v
— Ayesha Malik (@Spishaa) August 11, 2019
Priyanka Chopra responded by saying, “I have many, many friends from Pakistan and I am from India. War is not something I’m really fond of but I am patriotic, so I’m sorry if I hurt sentiments of people who do love me and have loved me.”
She further added,
“But I think that all of us have a, sort of, middle ground that we all have to walk. Just like you probably do as well. The way that you came at me right now… girl, don’t yell. We’re all here for love.”
Following the interaction, Ayesha shared this post on Twitter.
It took me back to when I couldn’t reach my family because of the blackouts and how scared/helpless I was.
She gaslit me and turned the narrative around on me being the “bad guy” — as a UN ambassador this was so irresponsible.
— Ayesha Malik (@Spishaa) August 11, 2019
And netizens had mixed reactions to the post. Some agreed that Priyanka was condescending while others didn’t think so.
She was sooooo condescending and patronizing!
— CocoDavis (@cocovancouver) August 11, 2019
You have every right to voice your concerns
— AM (@_Alejandra_M_) August 12, 2019
What qualifications does Priyanka Chopra have to be a UN Goodwill Ambassador anyway? The UN doesn’t encourage or applaud military action, neither should she regardless of which country is involved. The UN needs to stop picking Bollywood stars, randomly to be their ambassadors.
— Arty Martini (@Aredafir) August 12, 2019
She was just being patriotic girl. Stop putting her down.
— Liza (@Liza171010) August 12, 2019
Why can’t an ambassador salute its Army and wish long life for the nation one belongs too? How does that support nuclear war? Please explain? You were looking for attention nothing else.
— Rajeev Sehgal (@rajeev_sehgal) August 12, 2019
She never said nuke them, she never encouraged the war, she stood for her country and appreciated what the army was doing to protect its own people. Aren't you people lauding your army till date after the capture of Abhinandan?
Hypocrisy you said?— ill.i.am (@Mykdrops) August 12, 2019
What’s your take on the incident? Was the tweet in bad taste for a Goodwill Ambassador? Tell us.