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The photographer behind Gigi Hadid's latest Vogue cover needs to be cancelled
SO JUST IN case y’all weren’t sure, *this* is what Gigi Hadid, one of the top models in the world looks like:
SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images
SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images
Gigi is blonde, blue-eyed and, most certainly, Caucasian or ‘white’ in appearance. Her father is originally from the Middle East – Palestine to be specific, although he’s now a Jordanian citizen – but Gigi would not be what you call a ‘person of colour’.
So last night, when Gigi posted the latest Vogue Italia cover on it, with her good self as the cover star, people were confused.
See for yourselves why….
Ehh..yeah, that cover model doesn’t really look one bit like Gigi
Here’s the Vogue Italia May 2018 versus the next month’s Vogue Japan cover, both apparently showing the face of our gal Gigi. Her skin tone is noticeably darker than usual and her features have been elongated to look more middle-eastern/Mediterranean in the photo for Vogue Italia. She’s unrecognisable.
@gigihadid / instagram.com @gigihadid / instagram.com / instagram.com
Initially, people were confused by the cover.
But the bewilderment turned into anger. Many thought that the very dark tan and dark hair was an attempt to make her look like a ‘person of colour’, which is known as ‘blackface’.
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It should be noted that Gigi would have nothing to do with the final editing of the photo. But it should be her responsibility to come forward and address the controversial photos.
Fans wrote underneath her instagram to show their displeasure with the offensive picture:
@prateeitgoyal
If you’re a lil confused as to why this photoshoot is offensive, one fan. @lowkeywithlily, summed up really well why this photoshoot was wrong
Fotogramma / ANDBZ/ABACA Fotogramma / ANDBZ/ABACA / ANDBZ/ABACA
It is incredibly frustrating because non-white models find it extremely difficult to get modelling gigs compared to their white counterparts. So if Vogue Italia wanted a non-white model for this shoot, they really should have just hired one.
Of course, some white people thought there was no controversy, which is a bit like a man telling you that sexism doesn’t exist.
@seneccaa hilariously addressed white people seeing no problem:
If someone of colour is telling you something is racist, you should listen to them. END OF.
Before Vogue Italia come out and plead innocence for the controversy, know that the photographer they hired for the shoot, Steven Klein, has a long and checkered past of courting publicity.
In 2009, Steven, the photographer, took these blackface photos of model Lara Stone for Vogue France.
Vogue France Vogue France
This is what Lara normally looks like..
Empics Entertainment Empics Entertainment
In 2015, the same photographer took these very problematic photos of Kylie Jenner in a wheelchair
Photographing an able-bodied person for provocation is wrong, when it’s reported that 63% of people with disabilities live in poverty. If they were trying to show that those in wheelchairs can be ‘fashionable’, then you should use a real person with a disability. Not someone who ‘s ‘playing at being disabled’.
This photographer is clearly trying to drum up controversy for attention again, so be cynical when Vogue Italia inevitably ‘apologise’ for unintentionally causing hurt or harm to anyone…
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blackface Blackface isn't cool Cancel Steven Klein gigi hadid vogue italia