Priyanka Chopra, other Bollywood stars slammed for ‘hypocrisy’ on US racism after endorsing skin-whitening creams

The actress is one of is one of many Bollywood A-listers to have appeared in ads for skin-whitening treatments known as ‘fairness creams’

Critics say the film industry helps feed India’s obsession with fair skin and bias against darker faces

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Indian actress Priyanka Chopra. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:08pm, 7 Jun 2020Updated: 8:32am, 9 Jun 2020

Several Bollywood stars have been labelled “hypocrites” after speaking out against racism to lend support to global protests while promoting products in India designed to make people’s skin lighter.

A series of A-list Bollywood actresses, including Priyanka Chopra, shared posts on social media to protest against the death of George Floyd who died in police custody after a white officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

“End this race war here in the US, and around the world. Wherever you live, whatever your circumstances, NO ONE deserves to die, especially at the hands of another because of their skin colour,” Chopra, 37, wrote on Instagram. ⁣⁣⁣

People were quick to call her out on social media for previously promoting an “intense fairness moisturiser”. They also pointed at her role in 2008 Hindi film Fashion in which she is ashamed of having sex with a black man.

“Thanks for speaking out for black lives. But, maybe also stop supporting a skin bleaching cream which promotes anti-blackness,” one user replied to Chopra’s Instagram post.

Chopra, a former Miss World who became a star in both Bollywood and Hollywood, has said in past interviews that she regretted endorsing such a product as a young actress and that she is proud of her dark skin. She was not immediately available to comment.

Actresses Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani also faced criticism for their anti-racism social media posts while having featured in ads for skin fairness products.

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