Is this message on Priyanka’s T-shirt offensive or do people just not get it?

bollywood

Updated: Oct 10, 2016 11:58 IST

Priyanka Chopra, only the biggest Indian artist in Hollywood right now, tweeted a picture of herself on the cover of Condé Nast Traveller magazine on Friday. It may be one of the many, many magazine covers she has featured on lately, but it will still stand out because of the controversy it has created.

People are calling out Priyanka for the message on the tank top she is wearing in the cover photo. The words ‘Refugee’, ‘Immigrant’ and ‘Outsider’ are crossed out in red while the word ‘Traveller’ isn’t.

There could be many interpretations of the message, but a few of her fans have taken offence. They believe that Priyanka is belittling the plight of refugees and immigrants by showing them as less than a luxurious traveller. Here are some of the angry tweets directed towards her:

.@priyankachopra @CNTIndia r u kidding me PC?! What with this shirt! Insensitive to all ppl suffer around from refugees..etc. — Hanna (@HannanMust) October 8, 2016

.@priyankachopra @CNTIndia u could have just left the traveler part. U r not even a traveler per say u r a worker & ur job takes u places. — Hanna (@HannanMust) October 8, 2016

.@priyankachopra @CNTIndia I'm quite upset. Really stupid thing to do to just grab attention u don't need. Wise up.💔 — Hanna (@HannanMust) October 8, 2016

.@priyankachopra @CNTIndia & I'm amazed ppl r applauding u for this. These tags of wars refugees r not for silly magazine marketing. — Hanna (@HannanMust) October 8, 2016

@CNTIndia @priyankachopra the msg on tee is not good. Really offended — R (@TopRamon_) October 7, 2016

@cntindia being a refugee is NOT a choice, it's a matter of survival. i was already disappointed for her comments abt feminism, now this -.- — कमीनी (@1DerfulJelieber) October 8, 2016

@CNTIndia @priyankachopra offensive t-shirt. With 65 million ppl displaced, highest no. since WWII, to pretend as if it's a choice. #nonPC — savita_pawnday (@savita_pawnday) October 9, 2016

@CNTIndia @priyankachopra extremely insensitive in midst of biggest #refugeecrises. All other options listed are forced on people not chosen — savita_pawnday (@savita_pawnday) October 9, 2016

Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that being a refugee is a matter of choice...What were you thinking?! @CNTIndia @priyankachopra pic.twitter.com/WuyZv2iwp5 — Anum R. Chagani (@Anumero_1) October 8, 2016

Some fans have also come to her defence, saying what she meant wasn’t what people inferred from the message.

@TopRamon_ @CNTIndia @priyankachopra it means that ppl r striking off these ppl & the next will be traveler. — QUANTICO is here 💃 (@PC_SuperTrooper) October 7, 2016

Doesn’t mean people are buying that.

We think the message was that a refugee, an immigrant or an outsider should be simply called ‘travellers’. But hey, let’s wait for Priyanka or Condé Nast to clear the air on the controversy. Watch this space for a follow up.

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