Gigi Hadid and Vogue Italia Apologise For Blackface Scandal

Gigi Hadid and Vogue Italia have today apologised for a blackface controversy that has arose since the release of their newest cover.

Here’s what we’re dealing with:

Sneak Peek at our May Issue ⚡️ on Newsstands Friday May 4th! ⚡️ A story for #HighVoltage 🔌⚡️ power women ⚡️ @gigihadid in @dolcegabbana photographed by @stevenkleinstudio styled by @patti_wilson Full Credits 💡 Justin Martin @justin.e.martin @ Next Models NY #GigiHadid @ Img Editor in chief @efarneti Creative director @gb65 Hair by Ward @ward_hair @ The Wall Group Make-up Fulvia Farolfi @fulviafarolfi Manicurist Honey @honeynailz at Exposure NY casting Piergiorgio Del Moro @pg_dmcasting and Samuel Ellis Scheinman @samuel_ellis Production LOLA Production @lolaproduction Set Design Andrea Stanley @andrea_stanley_ @ Streeter's #dolce&gabbana #stevenklein #pattiwilson

A post shared by Vogue Italia (@vogueitalia) on May 2, 2018 at 1:56pm PDT

Vogue Italia took to their Instagram this morning to apologise for the execution of their creative work, ensuring their vision was to create a ‘beachwear-themed story with a stylized bronzing effect’.

The statement read:

“Throughout its history, Vogue Italia has respected and encouraged the creative viewpoints of commissioned photographers. In our latest cover shoot by Steven Klein, the vision was to create a beachwear-themed story with a stylized bronzing effect. We understand that the result has caused some debate with our readers, and we sincerely apologize if we have caused any offence.”

Throughout its history, Vogue Italia has respected and encouraged the creative viewpoints of commissioned photographers. In our latest cover shoot by Steven Klein, the vision was to create a beachwear-themed story with a stylized bronzing effect. We understand that the result has caused some debate with our readers, and we sincerely apologize if we have caused any offence.

A post shared by Vogue Italia (@vogueitalia) on May 3, 2018 at 1:27pm PDT

Another enormous issue that is making everyone’s online eyebrows raise is, why does Gigi look nothing like Gigi in the slightest?! According to her, Steven Klein was aiming to ‘show me in a different way creatively’, which apparently translates into altering someone’s ethnicity.

Gigi quickly apologised for the cover, posting a paparazzi picture from the day of the shoot, proving the extreme extent to which she had been styled and bronzed.

“Please understand that my control of a shoot 1. is non existent in terms of creative direction 2. ends completely when I leave set, and anything done to a photo in post is out of my control fully,” she posted to her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

“I want to address this for those who were offended by the editing / retouching / colouring of the cover. Please know that things would have been different if my control of the situation was different.”

“Regardless, I want to apologise because my intention is never to diminish those concerns or take opportunities away from anyone else, and I hope this can be an example to other magazines and teams in the future.”

“There are real issues regarding representation in fashion – it’s our responsibility to acknowledge those issues and communicate through them to work towards a more diverse industry.”

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