Controversy over Kamala Harris' photo on the cover of "Vogue" magazine
New York | Is a Vogue front page photo of relaxed Kamala Harris in sneakers disrespectful to the first woman of color to be elected vice president of the United States? The controversy forced the magazine’s powerful boss Anna Wintour to assure Tuesday that she never wanted to diminish the importance of her "incredible victory".
The controversy started on social networks Sunday, after the magazine published its cover for its February issue.
Some initially claimed that the vice-president-elect's face had been "whitewashed", before the controversy evolved to focus on choosing this "relaxed" photo for the cover of the magazine's print edition. .
The photo, which shows the future vice-president in front of pink and green curtains - in the colors of the prestigious student association to which she belonged - was taken as part of a series produced by black photographer Tyler Mitchell - who had made the front page of Vogue in 2018 with portraits of Beyoncé.
It was chosen at the expense of another, more formal photo of the future American number two crossing her arms in a light blue pantsuit.
“We obviously heard and understood the reaction to the cover of the print magazine and I would like to reiterate that we had absolutely no intention, in any way, to diminish the importance of the incredible victory of the Vice President. elected, ”Anna Wintour told New York Times reporter Kara Swisher.
The journalist - who runs the Sway podcast devoted to people of power - also broadcast Tuesday a rare interview with Anna Wintour carried out before the controversy, in which the head of the publishing group CondĂ© Nast, to which Vogue belongs, said "not being able to imagine ”that the choice of this photo is controversial.
The picture is "so happy and upbeat," she said. “I can't imagine anyone seeing it as anything other than that, the image of a empowered woman who, along with the president-elect, is going to give this country the leadership it needs. For me, this is a very important and positive statement about women and women in power. "
Mea culpa
Kamala Harris has not officially responded to the controversy. But sources around him have told US media that they were taken by surprise by the choice of this cover photo.
Anna Wintour had already been in the hot seat at the massive Black Lives Matter events last summer, accused in particular of not giving enough space to black stylists or photographers in the prestigious magazine.
Rumors of resignation had then circulated around the one that Forbes magazine presented, in 2017, as the most powerful woman in the world in the media and entertainment industry.
But the British-born septuagenarian remained in the driver's seat, saying she "took full responsibility for (her) mistakes" and apologized for "not doing enough" for her black collaborators.
In the interview with Sway, she says this episode of tension was "fruitful". She who has a reputation for being freezing - she is sometimes nicknamed "Nuclear Anna" - says she understood that she "was not listening or not listening enough".
“In a business you need to hear everyone, all voices, and make sure people feel free to speak up when they feel it is necessary,” she said.
