French Fashion Mag Defends Beyonce's Blackface Photoshoot!

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Buzz is swirling around Beyonce's recent photo shoot for the French fashion magazine, L'Officiel Paris. Unfortunately for Beyonce, the response to the photos isn't entirely positive.
The pop superstar appears on the cover of the magazine's new March 2011 issue. However, in one photo inside the issue, the singer's skin is visibly darkened with black makeup on her face and neck, which some blogs have labeled as offensive "blackface."


In the rest of the photos, including the cover photo, Beyonce appears without the dark makeup, dressed in African-themed attire.

CLICK HERE to see the article from the shoot.

In a statement to Access Hollywood, the publication raved over Beyonce and the final images conveyed.
"A queen, a goddess, Beyonce is a bombshell beauty with a divine voice. We're thrilled she's opening a season of celebrating the 90th anniversary of L'Officiel de la Mode. The series was conceived as using art and fashion in paying homage to African queens," the magazine's statement noted. "Beyonce mentioned the artist Fela Kuti in the interview as one of her musical inspirations. It was later misquoted as the inspiration for the shoot. We would like to clarify that it is not the case.

"As for the artistic makeup, the inspiration came from several African rituals during which paint is used on the face. We find the images beautiful and inspiring," the statement concluded. A rep for Beyonce did not have a comment on the matter. Fela Kuti, whom the statement mentions as one of Beyonce's inspirations, was a Nigerian musician/activist who died in 1997.


This isn't the first time Beyonce has been at the center of a photo shoot controversy. In 2008, some suggested the singer's skin had been lightened for a L'Oreal ad. So dissed if she's too light dissed if she's too dark, we love you jus' the way you are!

Since When Did Black People Decide To Do "Black Face" Oh yeah the '20's

 

So the last time a person painted there face Black after slavery, it did not go to well. (Ted Danson). Beyonce in L'Officiel in blackface? Let's see if we can get the facts. The Fashion magazine is about to celebrate its 90th birthday. To celebrathe this anniversary, the festivities start with the March issue, with Beyoncé on the cover. She agreed to pose for an incredible fashion shoot, with the theme of African Queen, paying a tribute to the legendary Fela Kuti. Far from the glamourous Sasha Fierce, the beauty posed for the magazine with amazing fashion designers clothes, but also in a dress created by her mother. A return to her African roots, as you can see on the picture, on which her face was voluntarily darkened. All the pictures will be available in the collector edition, on sell at the end of this month.