Rosie O'Donnell apologized on Monday for assuming that actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas' father was author Deepak Chopra.
O'Donnell posted an apology video on TikTok and said that she embarrassed her son, his girlfriend, and comedian Fran Drescher during an "awkward" encounter with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her husband, Nick Jonas, at dinner at Nobu in Malibu over the weekend.
"Because seated next to us in Malibu at Nobu was Nick Jonas, and his wife, someone Chopra, which I always assumed was Deepak Chopra's daughter," O'Donnell said in the video.
“So when I said, ‘Hi, Nick Jonas. You were great in “Kingdom.” And hi, I know your dad,’ she goes, ‘You do? Who’s my dad?’ I’m like, ‘Deepak.’ She’s like, ‘No, and Chopra is a common name.’”
Priyanka Chopra Jonas was born to Ashok and Madhu Chopra, both physicians in the Indian Army. While Deepak Chopra has two children, Mallika and Gotham.
O'Donnell went on to say how "embarrassed" she was for the mistake.
"Didn't you think Nick Jonas was married to Deepak Chopra’s daughter? Am I the only one who thought that?" O'Donnell asked.
She went on to apologize to Jonas, but throughout the entire video, she never called Chopra Jonas by her first name.
“I had one job, my kids said, and I messed it up," O'Donnell said. "So Nick Jonas, I apologize. And to the Chopra wife, I apologize too. TikTok you don't stop."
People in the comments responded by saying that Chopra Jonas was a bit rude to O'Donnell for the mistake. However, she took the blame for it in another TikTok and referred to Chopra Jones by her first name.
"So I'm reading the comments about my Nick Jonas and his wife, Priyanka Chopra, who I mistakenly thought was Deepak's daughter," O'Donnell said. "People thought that she was rude, she wasn’t rude, it was just awkward, you know? I mean, I’m sure she gets sick of that. I’m sure I’m not the only one."
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“But she’s apparently a very well-known actress and more famous than him [Nick Jonas], people were saying, so I’m sure it felt weird to her to begin with. Anyway, Priyanka is her name. Priyanka. I hope I’m pronouncing that right."
"I just want to apologize to her and to everyone who thought that it was really inappropriate of me," O’Donnell said. “Sorry. Sometimes I f*** up. I did at Nobu."
On Wednesday, Priyanka Chopra Jonas responded by sharing a message on her Instagram Story, reported Entertainment Tonight.
"I have never taken myself so seriously to think everyone would know who I am, or my work for that matter," the "Matrix Resurrections" star wrote. "But if you wanted to make a public apology for a very awkward private encounter, I think probably best to take the time to Google my name before doing it or even try to reach out directly."
She added: "We ALL deserve to be respected for our unique individuality and not be referred to as 'someone' or 'wife' especially in a sincere apology. If we can learn to respect our differences in an authentic way, the world we raise our children in, will be amazing."
The actress finished her statement with a bit of wisdom.
"As I've said before, not all Chopras are related to the great Deepak, just as not all Smiths are related to the legendary Will Smith."
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