Gigi Hadid responds to Vogue cover backlash
Another day, another Gigi magazine cover, but this one's caused a bit of controversy.
Gigi Hadid is a Vogue cover girl - again. This time the supermodel graces the cover of Vogue Italia.
The magazine debuted its May cover on Instagram this week, and instead of celebrating Gigi's umpteenth Vogue cover, her fans cried foul.
The model, who has appeared on more than 20 Vogue covers, is barely recognisable thanks to some heavy Photoshop. The blue-eyed, blonde beauty also looks a lot browner than her usually pale skin.
Some said the "blackface" cover was an insult, while others defended the editorial team saying Gigi just had a really bad fake tan.
"So disrespectful and insensitive. I don’t blame Gigi. HORRIBLE and irresponsible of @vogueitalia," one Instagram user complained about Gigi's heavily bronzed skin.
Another fan added: "She doesn't look like herself."
ALSO READ: Whoops! Photoshop fail of Gigi Hadid on the cover of Vogue
Gigi did not post the cover on her Instagram account but took to Twitter shortly after the backlash to apologise.
She says she had no control over the shoot or its creative direction.
"I want to address this for those who were offended by the editing/retouching/coloring of the cover. Please know that things would have been different if my control of the situation was different. Regardless, I want to apologize 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."
Gigi also explained why her skin was so bronzed.
"The bronzing and photoshop is a style that S. Klein has done for many years and I believe was what was expected from the shoot (to show me in a different way creatively), BUT, although I understand what Vogue Italia's intentions were, it was not executed correctly, and the concerns that have been brought up are valid."
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) May 3, 2018