GIGI HADID HAS taken to Twitter to address the controversy surrounding her recent photo shoot with Vogue Italia where the model’s complexion was darkened and her facial features elongated.
In a post which was uploaded this evening, the 23-year-old model shared an image of herself following the shoot, writing: “This is a photo of me returning home from shooting the Italian Vogue over on April 3rd.”
The model’s skintone differs greatly from the one depicted on the cover of the iconic publication – something which Gigi acknowledges.
You can see the level I had been bronzed to on set that day.
In the lengthy post, Gigi insists that her control is hugely limited, and regrets the offence the published shoot has caused.
Please understand that my control of a shoot is 1. non-existent in terms of creative direction, 2. ends completely when I leave set, and anything done to a photo in post is out of my control fully.
While Gigi offered an insight into the thought process behind the shoot, she acknowledged that its execution was flawed, and backlash was justified.
The bronzing and photoshop is a style that S Klein has done for many years and I believe 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 went on to insist that if she had had any say in the matter, the finished product would not have appeared as it ultimately did.
Please know that things would have been different if my control of the situation was different. Regardless, I want to apologise 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 ended her post by highlighting the importance of promoting diversity within the industry.
The tweet has been met with a positive response.
