@priyankachopra and the art of performative wokeness: a thread with photos.

1. Priyanka, the anti-racist
The image below is screengrab from PC's insta page where she quotes #GeorgeFloyd's last words and says "we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves."

A still from Fashion, one of PC's most successful films. In the scene, Priyanka is aghast, having woken next to a black man. Having slept with a black man is shown to be "rock bottom" after a downward spiral for Priyanka's character post which decides to "redeem herself".

A poster of film Mary Kom, based on life of Indian boxer & Olympic winner of same name. PC plays Mary in the film. The problem? Mary is a North Eastern Indian, an ethnic group with distinct facial features that faces discrimination across North India (where Priyanka is from).

Priyanka embracing her "brown-ness", posing with @rihanna and @NICKIMINAJ at the Met Gala 2019 after party.

Priyanka monetizing skin color based discrimination by modelling for Garnier Light Ultra "Fairness" cream. Dark skinned women are stigmatized, bullied and harrassed heavily against in India. The "fairness" cream industry cashes on this stigma with help of celebs like PC.

2. Priyanka, the UN goodwill ambassador
Priyanka was appointed the @UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2010. One of her prime missions as an ambassador is to promote peace and safety for all children.

In 2018, Priyanka famously met Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi, a man known for his divisive, hateful politics and once accused of his role in the 2002 Gujarat Muslim pogrom. PC also invited Modi to her wedding with @nickjonas the same year.

In 2019, when tensions between India & Pakistan escalated, Priyanka seemingly advocated for nuclear war by tweeting "Jai Hind" a masculine war cry meaning "India will win" along with hashtag #Indianarmedforces - at a time when tensions were at their peak.

In August 2019, at the LA BeautyCon, when responding to a question about her stance on an India-Pakistan war, Priyanka responded, "War is not something I am really fond of, BUT I am patriotic."

3. Priyanka, the feminist
PC has been unequivocal in her proclamation as a feminist, going on record at various public platforms to declare she stands for gender equality with "No ifs and buts".

However, at LA BeautyCon 2019, other than making her "patriotic" identity known, Priyanka also managed to gaslight & tone police Ayesha Malik aka @Spishaa, a Pakistani-American who, overhearing PC talk about her humanitarian work, felt the need to call her hypocrisy out.

To quote, Priyanka said, “Whenever you’re done venting. Got it? Done [...] The way you came at me right now. Girl, don’t yell [...] Don’t yell. Don’t embarrass yourself." Reflecting on the incident, Ayesha said, "Sorry didn't realize speaking on a humanitarian crisis was venting"

Of course, we've all pointed out how Priyanka was silent on police violence, killings & disappearances of India' Muslims during the recent anti CAA-NRC protests as well as on the age old violence against Kashmiris & Adivasis by Indian Army. Here's the thing, this is no accident.

Usually, when a savarna person of abundant privilege appropriates a movement or struggle, they are either doing so because it directly affects them, or because they stand to benefit from the appropriation. With Priyanka appropriating #BlackLivesMatter , it's both.

As a person of colour in the US she is likely to be affected by the institutionalized racism at some point, despite her high privilege. At the same time, don't be surprised if this "solidarity" paves the way for a Hollywood role in a film based on race-struggles in the US.

On the other hand, supporting the struggle of Muslims, Dalits, Bahujans and Adivasis in India for their socio-political upliftment doesn't benefit a savarna (liberal or otherwise) in any way. In fact, it only threatens their caste and class privilege and position of power.

So, it's hardly a surpise when @priyankachopra, @DishPatani , @iTIGERSHROFF, Kareena etc go eerily silent on the instutional violence & discrimination towards minorities in India but promptly jump abroad the woke-wagon for movements like #BlackLivesMatter or #HongKongProtests