Karlie Kloss is on the defensive after fans online took issue with her recent Vogue photoshoot that saw her dressed as a Japanese geisha.
“These images appropriate a culture that is not my own and I am truly sorry for participating in a photo shoot that was not culturally sensitive,” Kloss wrote on Twitter. “My goal is, and always will be, to empower and inspire women. I will ensure my future shoots and projects reflect that mission.”
The irony is that Kloss’ photos appeared in the Vogue diversity issue. This is the latest controversy around the issue, with social media users attacking the cover for a perceived lack of diversity.
Check out some of the photos of Kloss below.
there are approx. 130 million japanese ppl on earth but vogue rly called karlie kloss for this and she rly did it pic.twitter.com/cwJLJZ4iOH
— ????????♀️ (@vandanaiscool) February 15, 2017
Karlie Kloss is under fire for culture appropriation after the release of her March 2017 Vogue US photoshoot. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/Nm9N523Y2G
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 15, 2017
Read reactions to the pictures below.
@karliekloss This was more than appropriation, this was yellow face. You could have denied this job, and now only Japanese face consequences
— Svorge (@Svorge) February 15, 2017
Emma Stone, Scarlett Johansson, and Tilda Swinton turn to Karlie Kloss. “Your turn, girl.”
Karlie on phone: “Hello, Vogue? Make me Asian.” pic.twitter.com/zgUWIB022Q
— Ira Madison III (@ira) February 14, 2017
They put Karlie Kloss in a Geisha in a Vogue DIVERSITY Issue… No one at Vogue thought this was a bad idea? Lol ok
— Philipp Raheem (@PhilippRaheem) February 15, 2017
yellowface is real and racist and karlie kloss just did it in vogue!!!!!
— simone (@balloonbreath) February 15, 2017