L’Oreal Denies Rumored Lightening of Beyonce’s Skin Tone for Ad
Cosmetics giant L’Oreal is denying rumors they touched up a photograph of Beyonce for an ad campaign in an attempt to make her skin appear lighter. TMZ.com posted the advertisement next to a recent photo of the singer, sparking claims L’Oreal had lightened the singer’s skin in an ad campaign... and it's not the first time Beyonce's skin tone has been called into question.

Website TMZ.com posted the advertisement next to a recent photo of her singer, sparking controversial claims L’Oreal has lightened Knowles’ skin in an ad campaign for its Feria hair color line.

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

The singer’s camp declined to comment beyond referring to L’Oreal’s statement.

An Entertainment Weekly op-ed suggested that that the singer had indeed been photoshopped—as are most celebrities, the column pointed out—but took the issue further in reaching out to the National Association of Black Journalists, who commented, "magazines have to be sensitive to perceptions that light-skinned African Americans are more acceptable."

This isn’t the first time the singer’s image has been called into question. Back in 2002, while recording the music video to the song “Work It Out” for the Austin Powers in Goldmember soundtrack, female backup dancers suggested their skin was made to appear darker while standing next to the singer.

Reps for Knowles denied those rumors at that time.

According to reports, Knowles is putting the finishing touches on her third solo album, due later this year.

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