Lupita Nyong’o has taken to Instagram to express her disappointment over a recently Photoshopped magazine cover.
The Oscar-winning actress, who appears on the November 2017 cover of Grazia UK magazine, criticized the publication for removing her afro ponytail from the photoshoot.
“As I have made clear so often in the past with every fiber of my being, 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,” Nyong’o said.
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“Had I been consulted, I would have explained that I cannot support or 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 concluded.
Nyong’o’s statement garnered over 3000 messages of support from fans, who praised the actress for her outspoken words. “Thank you for being who you are, the way you are! May the good energies of the universe bless you!” one user wrote.
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The actress has long been a champion for diversity in the media and is diligent about using her platform to support underrepresented communities in Hollywood.
Grazia UK magazine has since addressed the controversy in a statement issued to the Telegraph. “Grazia is committed to representing diversity throughout its pages and apologises unreservedly to Lupita Nyong’o,” the explanation reads. “Grazia magazine would like to make it clear that at no point did they make any editorial request to the photographer for Lupita Nyong’o’s hair to be altered on this week’s cover, nor did we alter it ourselves. But we apologise unreservedly for not upholding the highest of editorial standards in ensuring that we were aware of all alterations that had been made.”
—With files from Katie Scott