UK’s Grazia Daily has apologized to Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o for publishing altered images of her.
However, the UK magazine distanced itself from editing of Lupita’s looks which caused a storm and drew backlash from the American-Mexican actress.
In defense, Grazia Daily UK in its apology stated that they did not ask the photographer to make any alterations to the images of the actress neither did they do it themselves.
“Grazia magazine would like to make it clear that at no point did they make any editorial requests to the photographer for Lupita Nyongo’s hair to be altered in this week’s cover, nor did we alter it ourselves” read part of the statement as quoted by Nairobi News.
The magazine apologized for not upholding editorial standards while publishing the images.
“But we apologize unreservedly for not upholding the highest of editorial standards in ensuring that we were aware of all alterations that had been made.”
Lupita on Friday called out the UK magazine for editing her looks and giving her a “Eurocentric” look.
She attached three images on her twitter page one showing her in short hair while the other shows her long and curly hair.
Her skin tone too was light.
“Disappointed that @GraziaUK edited out & smoothed my hair to fit a more Eurocentric notion of what beautiful hair looks like,” she tweeted.
On Instagram, she was categorical she does not “condone the omission of what is my native heritage with the intention that they appreciate that there is still a very long way to go to combat the unconscious prejudice against black women’s complexion, hair style and texture.”
She added: “I embrace my natural heritage and despite having grown up thinking light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards of beauty, I now know that my dark skin and kinky, coily hair are beautiful too.”
She was categorical that she uses make-up to as an accessory but not to hide her skin tone.
“For me, make-up is not a necessity. Make-up is not a mask, it’s an adornment, an accessory.”
She added beauty is diverse and she feels equally beautiful in her dark skin tone and kinky hair.
“There’s room in this world for beauty to be diverse,” said Lupita.