‘I can’t go back and change what I did’: Priyanka Chopra ‘sincerely’ apologises for appearing in adverts for skin-lightening creams and felt ‘sad’ when she saw them
Priyanka Chopra has apologised for doing a series of advertisements for skin-lightening cream, calling it one of the biggest ‘missteps’ of her career.
The actress, 38, previously took part in adverts for Pond’s Garnier cream and now wishes she hadn’t.
Writing in her new memoir Unfinished, Priyanka said: ‘I can’t go back and change what I did, but I can apologise, and I do so sincerely.’
Honest: Priyanka Chopra has apologised for doing a series of advertisements for skin-lightening cream, calling it one of the biggest ‘missteps’ of her career
In one ad, the actress was seen losing her boyfriend to a lighter-skinned woman only to win him back after she starts using lightening creams.
Asked how she felt when she first saw the ad, she told The Guardian: ‘I felt sad, actually. I saw myself through my 13-year-old eyes when I was making concoctions in my bathroom trying to lighten my skin tone.’
An old interview of the star resurfaced last year where she said: ‘I am very proud to be dusky myself.
‘I would never go round saying you need to become fair and that’s the only way you’ll be beautiful, because I don’t endorse that.’
Past: The actress, 38, previously took part in adverts for Pond’s Garnier cream and now wishes she hadn’t
The actress was accused of being a hypocrite by some on social media at the time as the quote was shared along with the lightening cream ads.
Elsewhere during her interview, Priyanka also discussed ‘cancel culture’, saying her relationship with social media has changed because of ‘hate and negativity’.
She said: ‘Look, we live in a world where cancel culture exists in such a large way because it’s easier to hate on someone than to take a minute to understand why anybody says and does what they do.
‘I’ve always been someone who believes in the goodness of human beings, but it seems as the world progresses that we’re afraid of each other and we’re only looking for the worst in each other.
Regret: Writing in her new memoir Unfinished, Priyanka said: ‘I can’t go back and change what I did, but I can apologise, and I do so sincerely’ (pictured in 2019)
‘What’s the point of giving credibility to a few trolls who choose to live in the darkness, whereas I have such an enormous sea of supporters and I have so much fun with them? So I’ve bifurcated it and I live in the light.’
Priyanka said she was previously insecure about her looks and was encouraged by her brother to enter a beauty contest when she was 17.
She went on to win Miss India in 2000 and was crowned Miss World the same year, insisting she never believed she would win.
Asked if she thinks beauty pageants are demeaning, Priyanka said that what they stand for ‘in general’ is, but said other things like how you speak, your compassion and you ‘connect with people’ were at the fore in Miss World.
Candid: Asked how she felt when she first saw the ad, Priyanka said: ‘I felt sad. I saw myself through my 13-year-old eyes when I was making concoctions in my bathroom trying to lighten my skin tone’ (pictured in 2019)
Priyanka also discussed her goals for the future, saying she is still trying to build a ‘formidable career’ in Hollywood.
The actress admitted it was ‘terrifying’ to leave Bollywood and try for a career in the American entertainment industry and said she had a fear of failing in the beginning.
Among her Hollywood roles so far are roles in Baywatch and Isn’t It Romantic while she is next slated to appear in romantic drama Text For You opposite Sam Heughan.
Future: Priyanka also discussed her career goals, saying she is still trying to build a ‘formidable career’ in Hollywood (pictured with husband Nick Jonas in 2020)