Julianne Hough.Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty
Julianne Houghhas learned a lot in the wake of theActivistcontroversy.
Speaking with PEOPLE at the Environmental Media Association Awards at Gearbox LA on Saturday, the 33-year-old star said thebacklash over the proposed reality program, which she was poised to judge, gave her “more of a fire to focus on the things that need attention.”
“I think the greatest thing that I learned is to listen to what’s happening, to gather information and to really try to learn,” theDancing with the Starsalum explained. “I think that’s the greatest thing you can do is to just learn and to grow and to be open to different perspectives.”
Originally,The Activistwasdesigned as a competition-basedshow where six activists would battle each other in an effort to “bring meaningful change to one of three urgent universal causes: health, education and the environment,” per CBS. Hough was slated to judge the show alongsideUsherandPriyanka Chopra Jonaswhile measuring contestants' success on social media engagement.
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In September, CBS announced that the program would no longer follow the reality competition format, but instead be adocumentary special. It will not premiere on Oct. 22 as originally scheduled.
After the criticism began, Hough told fans on Instagram that she was “deeply listeningwith an open heart and mind.”
“The last few days have been a powerful demonstration of real-time activism,” she wrote. “Thank you for using your voices, calling me in, your accountability, and your candor.”
Jesse Grant/Getty
“I reached out to so many people who offered their knowledge and their perspective in a way that was inviting and welcoming versus being judgmental,” she recalled. “That was kindness at its finest and it really showed that humans really do want to unify and help each other and that touched my heart.”
Acknowledging the intent of the program, the actress added, “Intention is one thing and execution is another, so hopefully we kind find the middle ground of both.”
source: people.com
