New York magazine’s ‘The Cut’ deleted an article calling Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra a “global scam artist” who conned US musician Nick Jonas into marrying her after severe backlash. “Upon further editorial review, we found this story did not meet our standards,” the magazine posted in place of the article. “We’ve removed it and apologize.” The piece, painted Chopra, 36, as a calculating figure whose relationship with Jonas was influenced more by a desire to further her career than love. “Nicholas Jonas married into a fraudulent relationship against his will this past Saturday,” the author, Mariah Smith, wrote. “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,” the piece added. It likened Chopra’s relationship with Jonas, a former boyband star turned solo musician and actor, to a business decision and a splurge on luxury items. The piece ended: “Nick, if you’re reading this, find that horse and gallop away as fast as you can!” Chopra, while responding to the told the Hindustan Times on Thursday: “I don’t even want to react or comment [on the article]. It’s not even in my stratosphere. I’m in a happy place at this moment. These kind of random things can’t disturb it.” The actress new family members Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner also criticised the article. Sophie took to Twitter and wrote, “This is wildly inappropriate and totally disgusting. Very disappointed that The Cut would give anyone a platform to spew such bullsh*t.” Joe Jonas posted on Twitter, “This is disgusting. @TheCut should be ashamed to have someone write such evil words. What Nick & Pri have is Beautiful Love. Thank u, Next.” Among other celebrities who stood by Chopra and Jonas was Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, who tweeted that the Cut has “a lot to answer for .” “The article on @priyankachopra was sexist , racist and disgusting,” she continued. “Also it’s written by a woman which is so sad. It reeks of envy and bitterness.” Arjun Kapoor, who starred alongside Chopra in the 2014 Bollywood film “Gunday,” tweeted that he knows Chopra personally and is “fairly certain @nickjonas hasn’t been kidnapped & forced into a union of love.” A number of journalists also spoke out against the piece on Twitter, questioning the Cut’s decision to publish it in the first place and slammed the story as racist and misogynistic. Journalist Ruchi Kumar? tweeted, “I’m not a fan of Priyanka Chopra, but that essay by @TheCut reeks of racism and colonial/western elitism. The author @mRiah (who is sadly also a woman of colour!) seems to be a very hateful person who thinks having a home theatre is reason enough to write vile things about her.” She followed that with another tweet, “I must add, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen African-American woman tear down Indian/South Asian women. You can’t claim to stand for #BlackLivesMatter and then use your western privilege to bring down a successful woman from global south. We need to be allies, not enemies.” Published in Daily Times, December 7th 2018.