InStyle magazine is catching flack for possibly lightening the skin color of actress Kerry Washington on its March cover.
Washington shared a photo of the cover on her Instagram and expressed her excitement for everyone to pick up the issue.
"I'm THRILLED to share with you all that I'm on the cover of this year's March @instylemagazine! Can't wait for you guys to see it and read it! So honored. And crazy excited," the "Scandal" star wrote.
The comments section lit up with fans not happy with her seemingly altered look. Many argued InStyle had Photoshopped its photo of the African-American actress to make her black skin color lighter.
"This looks nothing like you!!!" follower @tatianahayes commented. "You're so naturally gorgeous why did they do this to your pic :(."
Follower @rachelcleveland wrote, "they photshopped her. She doesnt even look like herself. + her skin is lightened."
InStyle immediately responded and denied deliberately lightening Washington's skin. Instead, the magazine blamed lighting from the photo shoot for her lightened complexion.
"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. 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," InStyle said in a statement on its website.
Washington tweeted her support of the Instyle statement.