Gigi Hadid apologises for Vogue Italia 'blackface': "It was not executed correctly"
![Gigi Hadid poses for the cover of Italian Vogue, but fans don’t recognise her. [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/HsFpLd5NBEZTVMGxJoLivw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/dce1d220b880e4dcd9db341f6a5f3714)
Gigi Hadid has graced many a Vogue cover in her time – from the British edition, to her home country’s version in the US, Arabia, Japan, Germany, Spain, Australia and more – and most have been met with fanfare.
However, her latest cover, for the June issue of Vogue Italia has left her fans accusing her of doing blackface.
The cover sees Gigi sporting dark hair and skin than usual, for the magazine’s ‘High Voltage’ issue, shot by photographer Steven Klein. In the shots, she sits on male model Justin Martin’s lap.
A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on May 2, 2018 at 1:46pm PDT
Fans were quick to comment on both the offensive manner of the shoot – as well as the dodgy editing.
I don’t understand why they photoshop like that. Why pay for Gigi Hadid to then make her completely unrecognisable? It makes no sense.
— Leanne Kelly (@Hestiaa1981) May 3, 2018
The amount of photoshop used on Gigi for the May issue of Vogue Italia should be illegal…yikes
— Amara La Nigeria (@Moyooxo) May 2, 2018
The cover also drew critique for Gigi and her costar’s colouring: thanks to makeup artist Fulvia Farolfi, the duo appear to be wearing an extra dark tone of fake tan, and fans haven’t failed to notice.
Somewhat more seriously, many have accused Gigi and Vogue Italia of ‘blackface’.
Sozzani’s Vogue Italia made history with The All Black Issue, calling out the lack of diversity in the industry. Farneti’s Vogue Italia gave us black face GiGi Hadid. Shame. pic.twitter.com/fayrtJxG0g
— A. (@septemburissue) May 2, 2018
gigi hadid doing blackface for Vogue Italia 2015/2018 pic.twitter.com/qSi1CTjDK3
— (@blancapadillla) May 2, 2018
did gigi go out with zayn over the weekend to try and distract from her blackface vogue italia cover because sis it didnt work x
— rachel (@rrrachelsarah) May 2, 2018
Well now, Gigi Hadid has issued an apology on her social accounts, along with a photo of herself which was supposedly taken just after her cover shoot on April 3rd.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) May 3, 2018
Beside it, she says: “This is a photo of me returning home from my Vogue shooting on 3 April… you can see the level I have been bronzed to on set that day.”
She explained that she has no control over creative direction and that anything done in post-production’ is “out of [her] control fully”.
She added: “Please know that things would’ve 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.”
It’s not the first time Gigi has be accused of cultural appropriation, posing for Vogue Italia in 2017 wearing an afro-style wig.
Other celebrities to have been accused of cultural appropriation include Kendall and Kylie Jenner, who released a ‘Chinese takeout’ bag as part of their Kendall + Kylie collection, and Beyonce who recently released merchandise which features images of herself dressed as Queen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt.
What do you make of Gigi’s Vogue cover?
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.
Read more from Yahoo Style UK:
What is Hashimoto’s disease, the weight-related condition Gigi Hadid suffers from?
Gigi and Bella Hadid’s nude British Vogue shoot makes for uncomfortable viewing
Here’s how much the world’s top models really earn
