“Scandal’s” Kerry Washington is turning the InStyle magazine controversy into a conversation.
Earlier this week, the magazine made headlines for its March cover, which featured an image of Kerry that left some people speculating over whether her skin was lightened in the photo editing process.
On Friday, as she spoke to Access Hollywood at the NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena, Calif., Kerry said she is glad the cover prompted a discussion.
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“There are so many images in the magazine that I really love and I’m very proud of the article. It’s one of the most personal articles I’ve ever done and I think the fact that the cover is really triggering feelings for people, it’s fantastic because it’s bringing up a conversation that needs to be had,” Kerry told Access. “I think the magazine responded in a really beautiful way and as long as we keep having that conversation, that’s what matters most.”
InStyle addressed the issue on their website on Thursday, denying that they altered her complexion in Photoshop.
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“We are super fans of Kerry Washington here at InStyle. To feature her on the cover of our March spring fashion issue is both an honor and a delight. We have heard from those who have spoken out about our newsstand cover photograph, concerned that Kerry’s skin tone was lightened,” the magazine said in a statement posted on their website. “While we did not digitally lighten Kerry’s skin tone, our cover lighting has likely contributed to this concern. We understand that this has resulted in disappointment and hurt. We are listening, and the feedback has been valuable. We are committed to ensuring that this experience has a positive influence on the ways in which we present all women going forward.”
Kerry re-Tweeted the link to InStyle’s statement on Thursday and thanked the magazine for addressing the concern.
“Beautiful statement. Thank u 4 opening this convo. Its an important 1 that needs to be had,” Kerry Tweeted.
— Paige Feigenbaum
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