ABC Studios has apologized to Indian fans after its recent episode of Quantico, starring Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, faced backlash on the social media. Chopra was criticized online for featuring in the episode that showed Indians intending to frame Pakistan in a terrorist plot.
“ABC Studios and the executive producers of Quantico would like to extend an apology to our audience who were offended by the most recent episode, The Blood of Romeo,” ABC said in a statement, Variety reported.
The American studio added that Chopra is not involved in the storylines portrayed in the series. It said that the episode has stirred a lot of emotion, “much of which is unfairly aimed at Priyanka Chopra, who didn’t create the show, nor does she write or direct it.”
The statement added: “The show has featured antagonists of many different ethnicities and backgrounds, but in this case we inadvertently and regrettably stepped into a complex political issue. It was certainly not our intention to offend anyone.”
Viewers had earlier slammed Chopra on the social media over the episode, broadcast on June 1, that showed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor getting uranium and planning to make a nuclear bomb with it. The target of the planned attack is shown as an India-Pakistan summit to be held in New York City.
The episode angered the show’s viewers as well as Chopra’s fans who took to Twitter, calling the narrative of the episode ridiculous. Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja also took to the social media to criticize the episode and the actress.
https://twitter.com/SirJadejaaaa/status/1004421636026585088
Another viewer on Twitter said: “How low you Bollywoodtards will fall for money & fame?”
Shame on you @priyankachopra
Why are you making people dig into your half Christian religion behind your contribution to anti-India/anti-Hindu propaganda?
How low you Bollywoodtards will fall for money & fame?#QuanticoSlammed #AntiNationalPriyanka— :Dunce (@DunCat9) June 6, 2018
Chopra plays the role of Alex Parrish, an FBI trainee suspected of being a terrorist initially, in the show. The third season of the show will be its last, as ABC network has decided to drop the show. The current season of the show will be aired through mid-July, Variety reported.
The show is averaging a 0.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic among 2.3 million total viewers, according to Nielsen live-plus-same day numbers.
Chopra made her debut in Hollywood with the film Baywatch last year, in which she was seen alongside Zac Efron, Dwanyne Jhonson and David Hasslehoff, including others.
She will also be seen in two upcoming films A Kid Like Jake, starring Jim Parsons and Claire Danes, and Isn’t It Romantic opposite Rebel Wilson, Variety reported. In Bollywood, Chopra has just signed Salman Khan’s Bharat.