Conde Nast Traveller defends Priyanka Chopra's 'insensitive' magazine cover

New Delhi [India], Oct. 12 : A day after Priyanka Chopra's shoot for Conde Nast Traveller magazine cover earned major criticism, the magazine has defended the message with an official statement asserting that it is about standing up against 'a culture of xenophobia.'

Titled 'The message behind our 6th anniversary issue cover', the official statement read, "It's about how our labelling of people as immigrants, refugees and outsiders is creating a culture ofxenophobia."

On October 7, 2016, Conde Nast Traveller, a travel magazine posted on Twitter, the first look of its 6th anniversary issue and captioned, "Bold and fearless, @priyankachopra makes a statement on our 6th anniversary issue cover."

The 34-year-old actress is seen wearing a printed white shirt that lists four words- refugee, immigrant, outsider, traveler in capital letters, where the first three options have been struck out with red.

Following this, many Twitter users called out disappointments with the 'Quantico' actress for unthinkingly endorsing what might be insensitive, classist comment.

The official statement elaborated on the magazine's stance on "opening up of borders and the breaking down of walls."

Probably referring to the refugee crisis mostly noted in the US, the statement identifies how the people themselves allow "some powerful leaders to build barriers that make it more difficult for bright, motivated and hardworking people to see more of the world."

"We are allowing thousands of innocent people who are forced to cross borders due to unimaginable terror and atrocities to be treated without humanity and empathy," the statement continued.

Adding that we are all travelers and must demand a world "free of racism and bigotry and prejudice, the statement describes how Priyanka Chopra is the "perfect ambassador."

"It's not about her being a refugee or immigrant or outsider; it's about her, like us, recognising the power of travel, and joining us in asking everyone to do better for each other," it concluded. (ANI)