India rallies against article labelling Priyanka Chopra a 'scam artist'
A journalist ruffled more than a few feathers when she came out swinging against Bollywood's most successful crossover actor
December 6, 2018
It seems not everybody was enamoured with the weekend nuptials of Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas — and some have taken enough umbrage with the affair to label the bride a "global scam artist".
New York Magazine's the Cut website, a spin-off aimed at its female fan base, published an article calling out Chopra as having conned now husband Jonas into marrying her, and later deleted it after international uproar — mostly among her avidly loyal Indian fan base.
After labelling the newly-married Chopra as a "modern-day scam artist", before following up later with the "global scam artist" moniker, the author proceeded to outline her argument that one of the biggest weddings of the year was a complete sham.
Read more:
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“Nicholas Jonas married into a fraudulent relationship against his will this past Saturday,” the author Mariah Smith wrote.
“All Nick wanted was a possible fling with Hollywood’s latest' 'It' Woman, but instead he wound up staring straight at a life sentence with a global scam artist.”
The article continued forth to paint Chopra as a deceptive and calculating figure whose relationship with Jonas was merely a front to help further her career.
"Even more upsetting, she's a scam artist who never even took the time to make sure he was comfortable riding a horse before arranging him to enter their wedding ceremony on horseback," the piece added.
"Nick, if you're reading this, find that horse and gallop away as fast as you can!"
Between the absurd Ariana Grande piece and the disastrous Priyanka Chopra essay, this week is a great reminder of the responsibility of editors to push back on bad ideas and not let writers hang themselves for the sake of hot take rage clicks.
— Louis All Is Calm All Is Bright-zman (@LouisPeitzman) December 5, 2018
The reaction on social media
Luckily, the couple needn't have bothered responding to the fiery piece — as the internet did that for them. Opinion pieces taking aim at the Cut's opinion piece soon filled news websites the world over, and Twitter lit up with a loyal fan base fiercely protecting their heroes.
Bollywood star and friend of Chopra's Sonam Kapoor lead the charge against the article, calling the article "sexist, racist and disgusting".
For a publication that “shows women’s what they are made of” @TheCut has a lot to answer for. The article on @priyankachopra was sexist , racist and disgusting. Also it’s written by a woman which is so sad. It reeks of envy and bitterness. @mRiah shame on you! https://t.co/bmbbX7LrAT
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) December 5, 2018
Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor followed suit, calling the piece "tacky and uncouth", and labelling Smith as an "unhappy opinionated racist frustrated journalist".
I know @priyankachopra personally & I’m fairly certain @nickjonas hasn’t been kidnapped & forced into a union of love … @NYMag u have an unhappy opinionated racist frustrated journalist who’s gone on n on about 2 people who by choice have gotten married. Tacky n uncouth writing. https://t.co/ngLvyqw6fD
— Arjun Kapoor (@arjunk26) December 5, 2018
Joe Jonas, Nick's brother and former bandmate of Jonas Brothers fame, even leapt into the fray, saying the magazine should be "ashamed to have someone write such evil words".
This is disgusting. @TheCut should be ashamed to have someone write such evil words. What Nick & Pri have is Beautiful Love. Thank u, Next. https://t.co/G3hvXmhm9O
— J O E J O N A S (@joejonas) December 5, 2018
As the uproar continued to gain pace, the website announced on Twitter that it would be taking the article down, saying it "did not meet our standards".
An earlier story about Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas did not meet our standards. We've removed it and apologize https://t.co/DkcOatMV2z
— The Cut (@TheCut) December 5, 2018
It's not the first time criticisms of the couple have caused a stir on social media.
After Chopra shared photos of her sangeet ceremony, Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder took it upon herself to decry the event as "another form of satanism".
Priyanka and Nick Jonas forcing their families to create Tony worthy performances for their wedding is another form of satanism.
— Stassi Schroeder (@stassi) December 2, 2018
As expected, the internet very quickly came to the couple's defence that time, too:
Read more:
All of the pictures from Priyanka Chopra's New Delhi reception
An insider's guide to Priyanka Chopra's mehendi ceremony
Updated: December 7, 2018 12:15 PM
