PETA slams Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra for animal abuse during their extravagant wedding

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas' wedding took the internet by storm as fans eagerly waited for exclusive pictures to drop of the much-awaited nuptials and the accompanying ceremonies. However, the couple seems to have found themselves in some hot water following the release of snaps from their wedding in Jodhpur that showed animals being used during some ceremonies.

PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals) released an official statement condemning Priyanka and Nick for choosing to use helpless animals for the purpose of their wedding, amounting to animal abuse. The official statement on their website reads, "Priyanka was ill-served by not being advised of the firestorm that would be caused by participating in animal abuse. It doesn’t make a person look big or glamorous to promote cruelty to animals who have no choice but to serve." The statement continues with the organization appreciating celebrities that actually take the effort to protect the rights of animals. "Overwhelmingly, these days, PETA is delighted to see so many celebrities who feel passionately about protecting animals.”

The animals spotted at the wedding included a horse and an elephant, reports PageSix. A fan site posted a photo of a white horse outfitted in red and gold, which Nick Jonas used to make his grand entrance. An elephant was also spotted with a seat for two on its back.

PETA India also wrote a scathing tweet directed at the newlyweds to inform them about the brutality meted out against animals used during such ceremonies. The tweet read, "Congrats, but we regret it was not a happy day for animals. (Elephants) for weddings live in chains and horses are controlled with whips, spiked bits. People are rejecting elephant rides and having horse-free weddings."

 

Mr. and Mrs. Jonas. | 📷: (c) Purple Pebble America, LLC and NJJ Entertainment, LLC 2018. Photographs by @JoseVilla/Getty Images

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It's a common Indian tradition to open a wedding with a 'baraat', where the groom, surrounded by family, rides a decorated horse or elephant during a procession to the venue. 

The animals weren't the only problem. Fireworks were set off during the wedding celebrations and people on Twitter were quick to call out Chopra's hypocrisy. The Hindu reports that Priyanka is a brand ambassador for Breathefree, a public service initiative for asthma patients organized by Cipla, which manufactures inhalers. On the occasion of the Indian festival of 'Diwali', Breathefree posted a video of Chopra on Twitter as part of its campaign. “Please keep my breathing unstoppable. Skip the crackers this Deepawali,” the actress urges in the promotional. “Let Deepawali be about lights and laddoos and love and not pollution."

 

#Repost @sabyasachiofficial with @get_repost ・・・ Priyanka Chopra @priyankachopra makes for a stunning bride in a custom red Sabyasachi lehenga. Hand-embroidered and hand-cut organza flowers, French knots in silk floss, delicate Siam-red crystals and layer upon layer of threadwork embroidery creates this piece of impossible couture. 110 embroiderers from Calcutta, India took 3720 hours to create this modern masterpiece. As an ode to the resplendence of Mughal jewellery, her wedding jewellery was crafted with uncut diamonds, emeralds and Japanese cultured pearls in 22 karat gold and had delicate tiny stars in uncut diamonds to give a sense of whimsy to an important traditional piece. Nick Jonas @nickjonas wears a hand-quilted silk sherwani with a hand-embroidered chikan dupatta and a chanderi tissue safa. His rose cut kalgi and Syndicate diamond necklace are from the Sabyasachi Heritage Jewelry collection. @sabyasachijewelry Image Courtesy: People Magazine @people Photography by @josevilla / @gettyimages Priyanka’s shoes by Sabyasachi Accessories @sabyasachiaccessories Nick’s shoes by Christian Louboutin @louboutinworld Wardrobe @stylebyami Makeup: @mickeycontractor Hair: @hairbypriyanka Wedding Design: Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla @abujanisandeepkhosla Venue: Umaid Bhawan Palace @umaidbhawanpalace #Sabyasachi #PriyankaChopra #NickJonas #Nickyanka #ChristianLouboutin #BridesOfSabyasachi #GroomsOfSabyasachi #SabyasachiBride #SabyasachiGroom #DestinationWedding #SabyasachiJewelry #SabyasachiAccessories #TheWorldOfSabyasachi @bridesofsabyasachi @groomsofsabyasachi

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Aware of Priyanka's previous stance on firecrackers, people on Twitter responded with scorn towards the actress. One person tweeted, “So basically Diwali crackers create problem and wedding celebration crackers add oxygen!!” Another one wrote, “Dear @Cipla_Global your brand ambassador @priyankachopra does exactly what she tells us not to do on Diwali, on your behalf. Can’t wait to hear your response and action."

Priyanka and Nick tied the knot over the weekend in Jodhpur, India during a lavish ceremony held at the Umaid Bhawan Palace.