How is this still happening?
Twitter Is Furious That Vogue Put Karlie Kloss in Yellowface for Their Diversity Issue
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Lately, Vogue has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. In the March issue of the magazine — the same one that was said to be championing those who “democratize fashion” featuring models like Kendall Jenner, Ashley Graham, Adwoa Aboah and Liu Wen — there is a multi-page spread of Karlie Kloss styled as a geisha in yellowface.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Carlos Soares (@carlos_01soares) on
The leaked images surfaced on the web yesterday and, needless to say, netizens are pretty angry. Their choice to outfit Karlie in geisha attire, Shimada hair and white makeup as she poses in Japan’s Ise-Shima National Park in an editorial titled “Spirited Away” (a nod to Japanese animator and director Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 film of the same name), is problematic, to say the least.
The spread was photographed in Japan by Mikael Jansson, who shared the above photo, and was styled by Phyllis Posnick. It features Karlie posing by a sumo wrestler, walking down the stairs of a tea house and even soaking in a bath, and obviously, the internet is upset. How did this happen? People took to Twitter to sound off. Read some of the noteworthy reactions below.
there are approx. 130 million japanese ppl on earth but vogue rly called karlie kloss for this and she rly did it pic.twitter.com/cwJLJZ4iOH
— 🤷🏽♀️ (@vandanaiscool) February 15, 2017
They put Karlie Kloss in a Geisha in a Vogue DIVERSITY Issue… No one at Vogue thought this was a bad idea? Lol ok
— Philipp Raheem (@PhilippRaheem) February 15, 2017
For real, Vogue? A photo shoot featuring Karlie Kloss as a geisha? In the so-called "diversity" issue, no less. https://t.co/bgpKXHw35N
— Angry Asian Man (@angryasianman) February 15, 2017
Karlie Kloss gets a 6-page spread in yellowface for Vogue's DIVERSITY ISSUE… while Imaan Hammam & Liu Wen get one pic each… the irony pic.twitter.com/fXn9Ikz7ik
— Nerdy Asians (@NerdyAsians) February 15, 2017
Emma Stone, Scarlett Johansson, and Tilda Swinton turn to Karlie Kloss. "Your turn, girl."
Karlie on phone: "Hello, Vogue? Make me Asian." pic.twitter.com/zgUWIB022Q
— Ira Madison III (@ira) February 14, 2017
Has Vogue lost it? Karlie Kloss as a geisha.
"What look should we go for this March?"
"How about yellowface and assorted Orientalism?" pic.twitter.com/bXZfiKzpe1— Suzanne Enzerink (@suzanneenzerink) February 15, 2017
Vogue could haveTao Okamoto for their Japan spread. But no. The leggy blonde chick Karlie Kloss surely makes more sense. 🖕🏼😒😡 #yellowface pic.twitter.com/QnEmzXzsWd
— Trust No1 (@DieQualDerWahl) February 15, 2017
wait a second. vogue dressed karlie kloss like a geisha for their DIVERSITY issue???? really??? life is literally an onion article now
— audrey-wan kenobi 👑 (@hipstrparamedic) February 15, 2017
Karlie has since apologized, saying that she’s “truly sorry for participating in a shoot that was not culturally sensitive” and that she will work to “ensure” her future projects “empower and inspire women.”
— Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) February 15, 2017
What do you think of all of this? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(Featured photo via Ryan Pierse/Getty)
