Beyonce Does L’Officiel in Blackface, Sparks Controversy

Beyonce is the cover girl of the latest issue of L’Officiel magazine, the anniversary issue. For the African-inspired shoot, the singer rocks traditional couture and headwear – but is also featured in some shots in blackface, which has gotten people talking of whether this is not offensive.

L’Officiel recently released the behind-the-scenes video that you can also see embedded at the end of the article – and it’s been getting people talking of why some magazines would consider blackface as high fashion or even art, when it’s nothing short of offensive.

Perhaps anticipating this kind of reaction, L’Officiel has issued a statement saying that the photospread is meant as an homage that required that Beyonce’s face be painted black for the sake of accuracy.

“Far from the glamorous Sasha Fierce, the beauty posed for the magazine with amazing fashion designers clothes, but also in a dress created by her mother. [It is] A return to her African roots, as you can see on the picture, on which her face was voluntarily darkened,” reads the statement from the magazine.

“As for the artistic make-up, the inspiration came from several African rituals during which paint is used on the face. We find the images beautiful and inspiring. The designs are all reflective of the African influence on fashion this season,” L’Officiel notes.

“Miss Knowles poses with royal allure. A queen, a goddess, Beyonce is a bombshell beauty with a divine voice,” the statement further says.

While no one’s arguing about that last part, voices in the blogosphere and the online media in general are saying that, no matter the aim of the shoot, it’s still offensive to have a model in blackface for it.

Moreover, this is becoming a sort of a trend, with major fashion publication putting either chocolate skinned girls like Beyonce or white women in blackface, as if that was the latest “hip thing” to do.

It’s not, The Atlanta Post says. It’s racism and it’s offensive.

“The current tone of blackface may seem to be less malevolent today; still, the fashion industry has shown their insensitivity because this imagery is still considered in the black community to be just as insidious and hurtful as it was in the past,” the magazine says.

“Blackface is not fashion forward or edgy and in my opinion, it is just flat out offensive. Black folks must have a zero tolerance policy for any manifestation of blackface, period,” reads the same piece.