Global Citizen Pulls 'The Activist' From CBS; Will Re-Tool Show as Docuseries

CBS and Global Citizen are pressing pause on The Activist, following the backlash from fans online.

Many had took to social media platforms to call out the purpose of the show, which, according to a release would have put activists going against each other in “head-to-head in challenges to promote their causes, with their success measured via online engagement, social metrics, and hosts’ input.”

“The three teams have one ultimate goal: to create impactful movements that amplify their message, drive action, and advance them to the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy,” the show’s description added.

However, after criticism reached an all-time high, and one host spoke out about it, Global Citizen released a statement about how they were retooling the show as a whole.

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The show was a concept from Global Citizen, Live Nation and Deviants Media, and CBS purchased the rights to air it.

Here’s the full statement from the organization below:

“The Activist was designed to show a wide audience the passion, long hours, and ingenuity that activists put into changing the world, hopefully inspiring others to do the same.

“However, it has become apparent the format of the show as announced distracts from the vital work these incredible activists do in their communities every day. The push for global change is not a competition and requires a global effort.

“As a result, we are changing the format to remove the competitive element and reimagining the concept into a primetime documentary special (air date to be announced). It will showcase the tireless work of six activists and the impact they have advocating for causes they deeply believe in. Each activist will be awarded a cash grant for the organization of their choice, as was planned for the original show.

“Activists and community leaders around the world work every day, often without fanfare, to advance protections for people, communities, and our planet. We hope that by showcasing their work we will inspire more people to become more involved in addressing the world’s most pressing issues. We look forward to highlighting the mission and lives of each of these incredible people.”

Julianne Hough, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Usher were slated as hosts of the series. It’s unclear if they will still be part of it.