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Kerry Washington Speaks Out About Her Photoshopped Adweek Cover

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Who’s that girl? Kerry Washington graces the April 4 issue of Adweek, but even she admits that the lady on the cover — while stunning — doesn’t look a whole lot like her.

After internet commenters started noting en masse just how altered the Scandal star, 39, seems to be (her face is nearly unrecognizable, and her skin appears lightened), Washington did what she does best: She took to Instagram to start a conversation with her fans.

So…You know me. I’m not one to be quiet about a magazine cover. I always celebrate it when a respected publication invites me to grace their pages. It’s an honor. And a privilege. And ADWEEK is no exception. I love ADWEEK. It’s a publication I appreciate. And learn from. I’ve long followed them on Twitter. And when they invited me to do a cover, I was excited and thrilled. And the truth is, I’m still excited. I’m proud of the article. And I like some of the inside images a great deal. But, I have to be honest…I was taken aback by the cover. Look, I’m no stranger to Photoshopping. It happens a lot. In a way, we have become a society of picture adjusters – who doesn’t love a filter?!? And I don’t always take these adjustments to task but I have had the opportunity to address the impact of my altered image in the past and I think it’s a valuable conversation. Yesterday, however, I just felt weary. It felt strange to look at a picture of myself that is so different from what I look like when I look in the mirror. It’s an unfortunate feeling. That being said. You all have been very kind and supportive. Also, as I’ve said, I’m very proud of the article. There are a few things we discussed in the interview that were left out. Things that are important to me (like: the importance of strong professional support and my awesome professional team) and I’ve been thinking about how to discuss those things with anyone who is interested, in an alternate forum. But until then…Grab this week’s ADWEEK. Read it. I hope you enjoy it. And thank you for being patient with me while I figured out how to post this in a way that felt both celebratory and honest. XOXOXOX

A post shared by Kerry Washington (@kerrywashington) on

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“So…You know me. I’m not one to be quiet about a magazine cover,” Washington, who shares daughter Isabelle with husband Nnamdi Asomugha, began. “I always celebrate it when a respected publication invites me to grace their pages. It’s an honor. And a privilege. And ADWEEK is no exception.”


”I love ADWEEK,” she continued. “It’s a publication I appreciate. And learn from. I’ve long followed them on Twitter. And when they invited me to do a cover, I was excited and thrilled. And the truth is, I’m still excited. I’m proud of the article. And I like some of the inside images a great deal.”

Kerry Washington
Washington on the red carpet at the ‘Confirmation’ premiere.

But the star of HBO’s Confirmation couldn’t ignore the cover shot. “Look, I’m no stranger to Photoshopping. It happens a lot. In a way, we have become a society of picture adjusters — who doesn’t love a filter?!?” she asked. “And I don’t always take these adjustments to task but I have had the opportunity to address the impact of my altered image in the past and I think it’s a valuable conversation. Yesterday, however, I just felt weary. It felt strange to look at a picture of myself that is so different from what I look like when I look in the mirror. It’s an unfortunate feeling.”

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All of that said, she thanked those who have been “kind and supportive” about the feature, and noted again that she is very proud of the article. She also promised that the conversation would continue: “There are a few things we discussed in the interview that were left out. Things that are important to me (like: the importance of strong professional support and my awesome professional team) and I’ve been thinking about how to discuss those things with anyone who is interested, in an alternate forum.”

She added, “But until then…Grab this week’s ADWEEK. Read it. I hope you enjoy it. And thank you for being patient with me while I figured out how to post this in a way that felt both celebratory and honest. XOXOXOX”

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Meanwhile, Adweek‘s editorial director, Jim Cooper, tweeted that there was indeed a tweak to the image, albeit a very small one. “Happy @kerrywashington was proud of her Adweek profile, sad cover misses for her,” he tweeted. “Added volume to hair for dramatic effect. No disrespect.”

This isn’t the first time Washington has called out a magazine for over-Photoshopping her. She previously noted when both InStyle (March 2015) and Lucky (December 2013/January 2014) seemingly lightened her skin tone for their cover shots.

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