CBS’ ‘The Activist’ To Be Reworked as a Documentary Special Following Backlash

The Activist is transitioning from a competition series to a documentary special following viral criticism. The five-week CBS reality show’s original format would’ve seen six activists from around the world compete to “bring meaningful change to one of three urgent universal causes: health, education, and the environment.” Along the way, judges Julianne Hough, Priyanka Chopra, and Usher would measure their success based on how much social media engagement their campaigns received.

But on Sept. 15, CBS announced that the show would get reworked into a documentary special following swift online backlash from viewers and activists.

“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,” the network and producers Live Nation and Global Citizen said in a statement.

“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,” they continued. “The push for global change is not a competition and requires global effort.”

The reimagined docuseries will instead spotlight six activists and the work they’ve done in their own communities. Stars will also receive a cash grant for the organization of their choice.

“Activists and community leaders around the world work every day, often without fanfare, to advance protections for people, communities, and our planet,” the statement finished. “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.”

This announcement comes a day after Hough addressed the controversy on Instagram.

“I heard [my followers] say there was hypocrisy in the show because at the root of activism is a fight against capitalism and trauma that it causes so many people and that the show itself felt like a shiny capitalistic endeavor,” she wrote. “I also heard you say that trying to value one cause over another felt like the Oppression Olympics and totally missed and disrespected the many activists who have been killed, assaulted, and faced various abuses fighting for their causes.”

“Because of this, there is a feeling of insult, dehumanization, insensitivity, and hurt that is being rightfully felt,” she concluded. “I do not claim to be an activist and wholeheartedly agree that the judging aspect of the show missed the mark and furthermore, that I am not qualified to act as a judge.”

A premiere date for the reimagined The Activist special has not been announced.