Beyonce's images on magazines and print campaigns have been the subject of many past controversies; did they Photoshop to make her complexion lighter? Did they slim her waist? Apparently, in her most recent H&M beachwear campaign, the singer’s figure was slimmed, and B wasn’t happy about it.
Always an advocate for women to embrace their feminine physique, the “Bootylicious” singer was furious after seeing her photos were retouched to lessen the appearance of her curves, and she battled the retail chain to release the un-edited images. Her efforts proved victorious, as H&M agreed to use the original unedited photos.
A spokesperson for H&M maintains that the store and singer are satisfied with the final photos chosen for the campaign: “As with all campaigns there are discussions on which images should be used. Both H&M and Beyonce are very happy with the final result.”
Everyone knows Beyoncé, but rarely does the public get to see her fight for what she believes in. Recently, Queen Bey has taken a stand against H&M’s retouched summer campaign photos of her son Blue Ivy and has taken decisive action to combat it. This article will take an in-depth look at how the powerhouse singer took on the retail giant and won!
This story starts with the release of H&M’s summer ad campaign featuring Blue Ivy Carter that was released online earlier this year. Immediately following its debut, fans began noticing something strange about the photographs – they had been heavily photoshopped! Although many were outraged by this obvious alteration of such an iconic image, no one expected Beyonce to be so vocal about it. She quickly spoke out publicly about her disapproval and made sure that everyone heard her loud and clear.
By utilizing her massive platform as an artist and mother, Beyoncé fought back against H&M over their decision to retouch these images without permission from either herself or Blue Ivy’s father Jay-Z. In doing so, she demonstrated just how powerful she is when fighting for something she cares deeply about; setting a positive example for other parents around the world who may find themselves in similar situations.
Background
It was the summer of 2018 when Beyonce and H&M clashed over retouched photos. The Swedish retail giant had recruited the singer-songwriter for their Summer campaign, which featured her in a selection of swimwear and other beach wear. However, Beyonce wasn’t happy with how heavily they had edited the images she appeared in. She felt that her body had been unfairly altered to fit a narrow beauty standard and wanted them taken down from all promotional material.
In response, H&M released an apology statement expressing regret at any offense caused by the photographs. They also stated that “We are deeply sorry that the pictures were not appreciated” and assured fans that future campaigns would be more mindful of representation issues. Despite this, many people viewed it as too little too late and argued that H&M should have given Beyoncé greater control over how her image was being used before releasing them into public circulation.
This incident became a major talking point among those who advocate for accurate depictions of Black bodies in popular media. It highlighted both the damaging effects of unrealistic beauty standards, as well as the need for companies to involve models in decisions about their own appearance rather than simply editing images without permission or consent.
Aftermath
The aftermath of Beyonce’s fight with H&M has been far-reaching. The incident sparked a national conversation about the lack of diversity and representation in advertising, as well as how companies should be more mindful when it comes to editing images without permission or consent.
In addition, some brands have taken steps to make sure that they are using models who accurately reflect their customers. For example, many now use unretouched photos for campaigns and focus on highlighting body diversity over one specific “ideal” look. This shift away from outdated beauty standards is an important step towards ensuring everyone feels represented in fashion and media.
It’s clear that this episode had a lasting impact – not only was it the catalyst for meaningful conversations around representation but also led to tangible changes within the industry itself. By advocating for her own rights, Beyoncé helped pave the way for greater inclusion and equality across all forms of media.
Conclusion
I. Summary of Events
In May 2019, H&M released a summer clothing campaign featuring Beyonce’s son, Sir Carter. However, the brand had retouched the photos to make his skin appear lighter than it actually is. This sparked an uproar from fans and celebrities alike, including Beyonce herself who demanded that H&M take action to remove all traces of the photoshopped images.
II. Aftermath
H&M was quick to respond to the outcry and issued an apology for their mistake. They removed all retouched images from their website and social media platforms, as well as donating to a charity in support of racial equality initiatives chosen by Beyonce. She also negotiated with them for more diversity within their campaigns going forward.
III. Conclusion
The incident between H&M and Beyonce serves as a reminder of how important diversity is in advertising campaigns. It’s clear that we still have work to do before true representation can be achieved across all industries – but this situation shows how quickly brands can act when faced with public criticism. I’m glad that such changes are being made so soon after this event; hopefully they will serve as an example for other companies moving forward.
