Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas receive apology from 'The Cut' writer
Mumbai, Dec 8 : Newlyweds Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have received an apology from writer Mariah Smith, who penned an article for The Cut in which she labelled the Indian star as a "modern-day scam artist".
The article, published on The Cut website, claimed that Nick shares a "fraudulent relationship against his will". The piece was full of racist, first world complex and misogynist undertones.
"I want to sincerely apologise to Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas, and to the readers I offended and hurt with my words. I do not condone racism, xenophobia, or sexism. I take full responsibility for what I wrote, and I was wrong. I am truly sorry," Smith posted on Twitter.
The article was slammed online by many people, including Nick's brother Joe Jonas and his fiancee, "Game of Thrones" star, Sophie Turner. The duo attended the wedding in Jodhpur along with the rest of the family members.
One of the portions of the article read, "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."
"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 for him to enter their wedding ceremony on horseback," Smith had written.
After the furore, the website issued an apology and said it has deleted the objectionable article.
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BJP fielded Ujjwal Nikam in polls who lied about Ajmal Kasab being served biryani in jail: Congress
Mumbai (PTI): AICC spokesperson Supriya Shrinate on Saturday alleged the BJP replaced a woman MP with someone like lawyer Ujjwal Nikam in Lok Sabha elections whose "lie" about 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab being served biryani in jail had been exposed in the past.
The BJP picked former special public prosecutor Nikam from the Mumbi North Central constituency by dropping sitting MP Poonam Mahajan.
Addressing a press conference, Shrinate said the people will teach the BJP a lesson by electing Congress candidate Varsha Gaikwad from the Mumbai North Central seat.
"Nikam's falsehood on Ajmal Kasab being served Biryani in jail was exposed a few years ago and he too had accepted his lie," she claimed.
Expressing confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will win all six seats in Mumbai, Shrinate claimed the BJP has to import candidates from outside to contest elections.
She alleged Union minister Piyush Goyal, who is BJP's nominee from Mumbai North constituency, cannot tolerate the smell of fishermen who are the original inhabitants of Mumbai.
"As the political atmosphere in the country is turning against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, they are spreading falsehood about the Congress by attributing motives to the party if it is elected to power. Since the BJP hasn't done any good work in the last ten years, they are speaking only about Congress and Rahul Gandhi," she alleged.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condemned Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar's purported remarks on 26/11 martyrs and Mumbai Police.
Wadettiwar, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, purportedly called Ujjwal Nikam an "anti-national" and accused him of hiding the information that then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare wasn't killed by Kasab's bullet during the 26/11 terror attack, but fell to a bullet of a policeman who was affiliated to RSS.
Wadettiwar's allegations were based on the book "Who Killed Karkare" written by retired police officer SM Mushriff.
"Wadettiwar should be detained by NIA and investigated to find out why is defending terrorist Ajmal Kasab (who was hanged after trial). The Congress party promotes terrorism," the Shiv Sena said in a statement.
Shiv Sena secretary and spokesperson Kiran Pawaskar accused Wadettiwar of making disrespectful remarks about the valiant policemen who sacrificed their lives during the 26/11 terrorist attack.
"Wadettiwar's remarks emphasise the track record of the Congress which promotes terrorism rather than its prevention. The Congress is not a party that prevents terrorism but it promotes terrorism," he alleged.
Pawaskar also questioned the "silence" of Uddhav Thackeray and alleged the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader was reluctant to speak about Wasettiwar for fear of upsetting certain communities.
He demanded Wadettiwar apologise in public to the kin of the martyrs of the 26/11 attack and the police force for his derogatory remarks.
He reiterated the Bharatiya Janata Party's endorsement of Nikam's candidature, citing his "unwavering dedication to justice, especially in cases of Dalit oppression such as the Khairlanji massacre".
Pawaskar said Congress' criticism of Nikam was baseless and an affront to the exemplary reputation of the Mumbai Police.
Meanwhile, the BJP Yuva Morcha in Mumbai staged a protest against "pro-Pakistan" Congress for calling Ujjwal Nikam an anti-national.
