Lupita Nyong’o is speaking out against Grazia U.K. for editing out her natural hair in her latest feature on the magazine.
The 34-year-old Oscar-winning actress shares a lengthy statement on her Instagram alongside the magazine’s cover and the proofs that show what the actual photos looked like before they were photoshopped.
The actress says that despite growing up thinking “light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards” she has embraced her “dark skin and kinky, coily hair” and is “disappointed” that the magazine has edited out her natural state.
“Had I been consulted, I would have explained that I cannot support or condone the omission of what is my native heritage with the intention that they appreciate that there is still a very long way to go to combat the unconscious prejudice against black women’s complexion, hair style and texture,” she says in her post. Read the full caption below.
Just a couple weeks ago Lupita revealed that she was a victim of Harvey Weinstein, among the numerous women who have accused him of sexual harassment. Lupita claimed that she was at his home when he led her into a bedroom and asked to massage her.
“For the first time since I met him, I felt unsafe. I panicked a little and thought quickly to offer to give him one instead: It would allow me to be in control physically, to know exactly where his hands were at all times,” she said. “I felt I could rationalize giving him one and keep a semblance of professionalism in spite of the bizarre circumstance. He agreed to this and lay on the bed. I began to massage his back to buy myself time to figure out how to extricate myself from this undesirable situation.”
