Beyonce Lightened For Ad? L'Oreal Denies

NEW YORK — Cosmetics giant L'Oreal is denying it lightened Beyonce's skin tone in an ad.

"We highly value our relationship with Ms. Knowles. It is categorically untrue that L'Oréal Paris altered Ms. Knowles' features or skin tone in the campaign for Feria hair color," the Paris-based company said in a statement sent to the Associated Press through the singer's representative.

The ad is in the current edition of Elle magazine.

L'Oreal, the maker of Garnier hair care and Lancome cosmetics, is the world's largest cosmetics maker.

A representative for Beyonce said the singer would have no comment beyond L'Oreal's statement.

Beyonce has been a spokeswoman for L'Oréal since 2001.

Comments

[Adian00]

Ok..but how about this? the general tone of African American skin, just like Caucasian skin can and will appear to change according to the light environment that it is in. For instance, white people look more tan in darker light. Same goes for black people - so it stands to reason that Beyonce's skin tone reflected not only the color of her hair but also the color of the light that was directed on her face. More to the point - we're in the middle of summer - of course her skin will be darker - it's called a TAN People!!!!! The Loreal promotional could have been shot during the colder months.

[pottery]

Ridiculous. She's obviously tanned in one picture, and overly lit in the other.

[WilliamBentley2]

Agreed. She is naturally fair-skinned (not super light, but definitely light enough to look like the image on the right with too much lighting/exposure). She looked underlit, actually, in the photo on the left. She is always over-bronzed too. Anyone ever notice that?

[NTO08]

DUH...stup­id story. Why are people so obsessed about race? MOVE ON!

[Elrancho]

Yes, it is stupid but anyone who thinks race in America isn't an issue must have their head deep in the sand and simply has no understanding or empathy for what is means to be black in America.

[SwingVoter]

Lord have mercy on Race.

[Clevelanded]

People, please take a deep breath before declaring something relating to race or racism not a big deal.

I know it sucks, but racism is one area in which loud proclamations of "It's over," or saying something like "You people are too sensitive" or paranoid doesn't actually help.

I am black, and my personal approach is let things that I think are minor go. For me, this is one of them. But I am not presumptuous enough to speak for everyone.

So I say to all, particularly white people, if your purpose is actually to move issues of race forward, think before you speak and before you write. Telling somebody racism is over is unlikely to do anything but make them think the opposite is true.

[Elrancho]

Well said, Clevelanded. Many whites like to proclaim that black people are being overly sensitive about racial issues when they have absolutely no idea what they're talking about. Even though I'm white, it's perfectly obvious to me that the majority of black people face some kind of discrimination, one way or another, virtually every day of their lives in America. It's no joke and to dismiss it as such is simply a sign of ignorance - and there's plenty of that going around.

[NTO08]

Blather...­non-story, non-issue.

[thankulord13]

Oh it isn't just Black people... Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans all face some level of discrimination. To make it seem as if it is just a Black and White issue is minimizing and simplifying the issue. I am glad though that this issue is being addressed because it needs to be. It is sad that in 2008 we are talking about something that should have been dealt with back in the 70's.

[FatJoe]

It's actually a little known fact that Beyonce is just like Dr. Manhattan from the Watchmen comic books: she can increase or decrease her tone at will. She can also shape all physical matter at will.

That's probably way too big of a comic book nerd comment to make it past the moderator.

[imalonghorn]

On both pictures Beyonce is wearing a wig...one is with dark hair the other with light hair. The lighter hair lightens her skin as well as the lighting from the photo shoot. The picture they are comparing is a regular runway type shot. I'm a black woman...a lot of black women wear wigs and hair weaves...i­ts of her own preference. Everything is not a racial issue. I'm not saying that colorism doesn't exist, because it does, even in the black community, but this isn't an example of it. She's not a dark skinned girl, and never has been. Both of her parents have relatively fair skin. It's just who she is.

[Sarahjan]

boitexas

how do link this to L'Oreal's skin whitening brands with such names as Bi White, White Pefect, Blanc Expert? you see no racism in such branding ?

[boitexas]

What is the big deal? Beyonce is apparently a very confident and self assured young woman. And in the photos of her and J-Z on their yachts, looks like she's getting a tan. Yes I bet she can tan.

As for L'Oreal, they are in the cosmetics business, the entire premise is that you are not pretty enough and we can help you if you buy these products.

BTW - I don't remember this hullaballoo over Queen Latifah and her ads. And her shades of skin color seem to change too.

[vox1]

Sorry, I meant to write: "this is not just about Beyonce and black women. "

[vox1]

Oh, for heaven's sake! White actressses and entertainers wear hair weaves and wigs, too. Some of the men have toupes. They always have. They get nose jobs and facelifts. That's much riskier for blacks because of the propensity to develop keloids when the skin is cut. Hollywood is all about changing your image and appearance on an as needed basis. So is modeling. It's pretty much all an illusion. This is not just about black women and black women.

[Sarahjan]

Propeity
Yes, colorism is American thing, and now it is a big business .
L'Oreal is cashing by using to its advantage deeper social struggles for self worth and respectability. Racism can be big business and racism can sell shampoos, creams and even fake hair

[NTO08]

Cant...jus­t sheer nonsense..­.

[SilkySoul]

If you lookup up the definition of sickness L'Oreal should be prominently featured.

[Sarahjan]

genseric13
no kidding! Michelle Obama will get her black self image ‘soften up’ -translation lightened up few shades

[AnnieinOR]

the article is about BEYONCE - stay focused.

[Propeity]

Too much sensitivity in America over skin color variation. And too few conversations about character.

We are discussing Beyonce as if she is the contemporary Cruella De Ville. She has never embarrased her fellow Americans. Never brought shame on her fellow Texxas. But, all hell seems to break loose if her features.h­airstyle cross a certain color line. Is anyone complaining about Christina's plantinum blonde look? How about J.Lo's blonde/reddish wig?

Shame on all of you who are castigated her or Loreal for this. Aren't there more important things to worry about. Beyonce has always had European/nulatto affinities. Why is anyone surprised that a slight variation of makeup and hair could result in a more European version. She is part European.

[philinmedford]

Ok, I've got a question and this thread seems appropriate. I wouldn't know how to really pose the question but posting on the net has its advantages :0)

Way back in the day when we were having "rap sessions" a sister said "I don't envy anything about the white folks - except for your hair. You guys hair is awesome". At that time, the "fro" was really popular and the "natural" look was all that was to be had. (I know I'm OLD! lol)

Now to my question, this is two parts. What process (or combination thereof) is used today by women of color? Is it a chemical or extensions of some kind?

Second part: Is it considered (by and large) as preferential to the natural look?

I guess I'm just curious is all.

[wanj]

I embraced that natural me a long time ago.... I have locs down to my beautiful round a$$!

[Lalita]

Ditto on the locs here, too. In Indianapolis, where I live, there is more acceptance of natural hairstyles. When I went natural (no chemicals, dyes or bleaches) 12 years ago, it was other Black people who told me no one would ever accept me as credible in professional settings (oh, and lamented that I used to have "good hair").

I started my own company, a management consultancy, a dozen years ago and my hair hasn't been an issue, except for the odd, poorly home-trained white biz person who wants to touch my hair. And because I brought it up, I'm not a llama and my office isn't in a petting zoo.

Go figure.

[Lalita]

...and just to be clear here: I'm not hating on women who lighten or darken their hair or skin, paint their nails, wear tatoos or anything else. Hell, it's your body--your canvas.

I think what people are worried about is the added "baggage" that gets piled in with color issues for those of us in the US. OJ Simpson's picture on the cover of Time (or was it Newsweek) was darkened over the original image to make him look more sinister.

Having taken my fair share of consumer and branding psychology classes in my way towards getting my undergrad and b-school degree, I can tell you that these images are carefully designed, with nothing left to change.

They did it on purpose. Now, what purpose? That's the question.

[WinstonSmith]

The fro was the bomb as are dreads. Now you want to talk bad styles I never got that Gumby fade look or shaving names into hair of the 80s. That was as bad as a mullet or rat tail.