Lupita Nyong’o accuses Grazia of removing her hair

Lupita Nyong’o has accused Grazia magazine of removing part of her hair for the front cover of its November edition.

She said she was “disappointed” it changed her hairstyle to “fit their notion of what beautiful hair looks like”.

The actress posted the original image on Instagram alongside the published version – which appears to show some of her hair missing.

The UK-based magazine has apologised.

As I have made clear so often in the past with every fiber of my being, I embrace my natural heritage and despite having grown up thinking light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards of beauty, I now know that my dark skin and kinky, coily hair are beautiful too. Being featured on the cover of a magazine fulfills me as it is an opportunity to show other dark, kinky-haired people, and particularly our children, that they are beautiful just the way they are. I am disappointed that @graziauk invited me to be on their cover and then edited out and smoothed my hair to fit their notion of what beautiful hair looks like. 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. #dtmh

A post shared by Lupita Nyong’o (@lupitanyongo) on Nov 9, 2017 at 6:11pm PST

In a lengthy Instagram post, the Oscar-winning actress said: “I embrace my natural heritage and despite having grown up thinking light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards of beauty, I now know that my dark skin and kinky, coily hair are beautiful too.”

The 12 Years a Slave star went on to say if she had been consulted she wouldn’t have supported the “omission of what is my native heritage”.

Lupita, who’s from Kenya, added there was “still a very long way to go to combat the unconscious prejudice against black women’s complexion, hair style and texture”.

In a statement, Grazia said it was “committed to representing diversity” and apologised to the actress.

It also said it also wanted to make clear that it did not ask the photographer to alter the image or make the edit itself.

Lupita is the latest star to tell a UK magazine not to touch her hair.

Solange Knowles hit out at the London Evening Standard magazine last month for digitally removing some of her braids on its front cover.

The magazine later apologised.