Julianne Hough issues lengthy note amid backlash over upcoming reality series, The Activist

US actress Julianne Hough has issued a lengthy note after copping criticism for signing onto an upcoming reality series that’s been dubbed “performative”.

US actress Julianne Hough has released a lengthy statement after her upcoming reality series was dubbed “tone deaf” and “performative”.

The Rock of Ages star was last week announced as a judge on CBS’ upcoming show The Activist, alongside Usher and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

The competition series will follow six activists who team up with three high-profile public figures as they work together “to bring meaningful change to one of three vitally important world causes: health, education, and environment”.

However, the premise was immediately criticised prior to its premiere as an exploitation of activist causes for entertainment purposes, with actress Jameela Jamil tweeting: “Couldn’t they just give the money it’s going to take to pay this UNBELIEVABLY expensive talent and make this show, directly to activist causes? Rather than turning activism into a game and then giving a fraction of the much needed money away in a ‘prize…?’ People are dying.”

Days later Hough has responded to the furore, telling her Instagram followers she was “listening” to their concerns.

“Thank you for using your voices, calling me in, your accountability, and your candour. I am deeply listening with an open heart and mind,” Hough wrote.

Julianne Hough has addressed the controversy surrounding ‘The Activist’. Picture: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

“I heard you say that the show was performative, promoted pseudo-activism over real activism, felt tone-deaf, and that the hosts weren’t qualified to assess activism because we are celebrities and not activists.

“I heard you say that there was hypocrisy in the show because at the root of activism is a fight against capitalism and the trauma that it causes so many people and that the show itself felt like a shiny capitalistic endeavour.

“I do not claim to be an activist and wholeheartedly agree that the judging aspect of the show missed the mark and furthermore, that I am not qualified to act as a judge.”

Hough didn’t say whether or not she would be stepping down from the series but that she would “continue to listen, unlearn, learn”.

As part of her statement, the Footloose actress was also forced to address a previous blackface scandal in 2013, which resurfaced amid The Activist backlash, in which Hough had dressed up as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren, played by Uzo Aduba, from Orange Is the New Black for Halloween.

“Many people are just becoming aware that I wore blackface, which only further added insult to injury,” Hough added.

“Wearing blackface was a poor choice based on my own white privilege and white body bias that hurt people and is something that I regret doing to this day.

“My commitment has been to reflect and act differently. Not perfectly, but hopefully with a more developed understanding that racism and white supremacy is harmful to ALL people.”

CBS is yet to comment on criticism surrounding the show.

Originally published as Julianne Hough issues lengthy note amid backlash over upcoming reality series, The Activist