As if skin lightening wasn’t getting enough negative press as a cosmetic procedure, now the digital manipulation of photos for the same purpose has become the subject of controversy. When the March 2015 edition of InStyle was shown, the cover featured Kerry Washington in an apparently manipulated photo, showing her with a lighter-colored skin. And even though some claimed the picture actually looked stylish and gave off a “light” vibe for the actress, many expressed their apparent outrage at the magazine editors and their decision to edit the photo so heavily.
The Instagram account of the magazine was quickly flooded with comments bashing the publication for editing the photo, with some pointing out that the incident is particularly bad because it happens during Black History Month. The problem has quickly turned into a racial issue for some, even though most commenters on the situation have been trying to avoid touching that aspect of the discussion.
One particular commenter pointed out that the makeup artist that regularly works with Kerry Washington has typically been known for doing a good job and always matching her skin tone nicely, so the photo was obviously the result of additional manipulation. He went on to add that he saw the move as very questionable and pointed out the double standards that are sometimes present in media with regards to skin color.
It wasn’t long before InStyle responded to the situation, claiming that they hadn’t actually used any digital manipulation to make the photo lighter, and attributing the effect to overdone lighting. The magazine editors also claimed to understand the disappointment people have been feeling towards the situation, and stated that they have been listening closely and will be adjusting their future actions according to the feedback they’ve been getting.
Kerry Washington herself didn’t see anything wrong with the cover, according to her own statements, but she did make a note of what InStyle said in response to the controversy, calling it a “beautiful statement” and thanking the magazine for opening up a conversation on the issue.
Skin whitening seems to be a troubling issue for many people, and not just when it comes to the cosmetic procedure, but also in general. Some cultures have a certain attitude towards skin color and lighter skin is seen as preferable, which further adds to the complex nature of the issue in those places. At the same time, skin lightening companies have been causing more problems themselves by releasing advertising campaigns for their products executed in somewhat poor taste, according to the opinions of critics. Some have been questioning whether skin lightening should be allowed to be advertised in the first place.