Thread by @Variety

#TheActivist, a competition series hosted by Usher, Julianne Hough and Priyanka Chopra Jonas that had itself become the target of online activism, is being reconfigured in response to a firestorm of criticism. bit.ly/3lzuvwK

Although footage for the original incarnation had already been shot, this version of #TheActivist will be entirely new.

Filming is expected to begin from scratch. The series will now become a one-time special instead of a five-episode series. bit.ly/3lzuvwK

The show had faced serious heat since Usher, Hough and Chopra Jonas were announced as hosts late last week, with social media users criticizing the competitive nature of a show meant to celebrate activism. bit.ly/3lzuvwK

In a joint statement, CBS and producing partners Global Citizen and Live Nation announced the format switch, saying: “‘The Activist’ was designed to show a wide audience the passion, long hours, and ingenuity that activists put into changing the world...” bit.ly/3lzuvwK

“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,” the statement continues. bit.ly/3lzuvwK

“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),” the CBS/Global Citizen/Live Nation statement reads. bit.ly/3lzuvwK

Global Citizen released its own separate statement with an apology. “Global activism centers on collaboration and cooperation, not competition. We apologize to the activists, hosts, and the larger activist community — we got it wrong.” bit.ly/3lzuvwK

“It is our responsibility to use this platform in the most effective way to realize change and elevate the incredible activists dedicating their lives to progress all around the world,” the statement reads. bit.ly/3lzuvwK

The now-abandoned format for the series had six activists representing three causes — health, education and environment — completing challenges to raise awareness about those issues during the initial four episodes. bit.ly/3lzuvwK

For the fifth & final episode, three of the activists were to have been chosen to go to the G20 summit and meet with world leaders to personally press their causes. Performances from well-known musicians also would have figured into the climactic episode. bit.ly/3lzuvwK

The documentary version is expected to focus on the same activists but without the “challenges” or evaluations. bit.ly/3lzuvwK

Read @ChrisWillman’s exclusive on the competition series being retooled into a documentary special. bit.ly/3lzuvwK