ハリス氏表紙に批判殺到　米誌ヴォーグ、編集長が釈明

【ニューヨークＡＦＰ＝時事】カジュアルな装いをしたカマラ・ハリス次期米副大統領の写真を使った米ファッション誌ヴォーグの表紙が、ハリス氏の政治家としての功績をおとしめているとして物議を醸している。批判が相次いだことを受け、同誌のアナ・ウィンター編集長は12日、釈明に追い込まれた。（写真はカマラ・ハリス次期米副大統領を起用した米ファッション誌ヴォーグ2021年2月号の表紙。同誌提供）
　表紙に使用されたのは、スニーカーにブレザー、ジーンズ姿のハリス氏を写した写真。１０日に公表されるとソーシャルメディア上では批判が殺到し、写真の構図が悪いという指摘や、黒人女性で初めて副大統領に選ばれたハリス氏に対し無礼だとの声が上がった。
　写真を撮影したのは、米国人写真家のタイラー・ミッチェル氏。２０１８年、米人気歌手ビヨンセさんの写真で、黒人写真家として初めてヴォーグ誌の表紙を飾っていた。
　ソーシャルメディア上では撮影時の照明についての批判も展開され、ヴォーグ誌がハリス氏の肌の色を実際より明るく写るように撮影したのではないかと疑う声が上がった。
　ウィンター編集長はニューヨーク・タイムズ紙のカラ・スイッシャー記者に対し、「われわれは当然、表紙写真に対する反応を耳にし、理解している。次期副大統領のすばらしい勝利の重要性を損なわせることを意図したわけでは決してなかったということを、改めて表明しておきたい」と釈明した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/01/13-08:35）

A Vogue cover photo of a casual Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has sparked controversy, with critics saying it diminishes the politician's achievements, forcing editor Anna Wintour to defend the image Tuesday.
Criticism of the cover has spread on social media since it was released on Sunday, with users insisting that what they see as a poorly composed portrait of Harris wearing sneakers is disrespectful to the first Black woman to be elected vice president.
The photo -- in which Harris also wears a blazer and jeans -- was taken by American photographer Tyler Mitchell, who in 2018 became the first Black photographer to shoot a Vogue cover with his portraits of music icon Beyonce.
It was this image that Wintour chose to grace the cover of the hard copy of the February issue, rather than a more formal portrait of Harris in a light blue Michael Kors pantsuit, which was also taken by Mitchell.
Writing in the Washington Post, fashion critic Robin Givhan said the print cover was overly familiar and did not give Harris due respect.
Social media users also slammed the photo's lighting and questioned whether the magazine had lightened Harris's skin.
Obviously we have heard and understood the reaction to the print cover and I just want to reiterate that it was absolutely not our intention to, in any way, diminish the importance of the Vice President-elect's incredible victory, Wintour said in a statement to New York Times reporter Kara Swisher.
Swisher, host of the podcast Sway, also broadcast a rare interview with Wintour Tuesday that was carried out before the controversy.
- 'Positive change' -
In the interview, the artistic director of Vogue's publisher, Conde Nast, describes the cover as just so joyful and optimistic.
I cannot imagine that there's anyone that really is going to find this cover anything but that, and positive, and an image of a woman in control of her life who is going to bring us with the president-elect the leadership that we so need, Wintour said.
Harris, 56, has not publicly reacted but sources close to her have told US media that she was surprised by the choice of the more relaxed photo.
The controversy is the latest to engulf Wintour, who found herself under pressure during the massive Black Lives Matter protests that swept the US last summer.
She apologized for not making enough room for Black stylists and photographers in the magazine.
Wintour added that she also took full responsibility for publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant.
Rumors that she would resign circulated, but the British-born 71-year-old -- described by Forbes magazine in 2017 as the most powerful woman in media -- has remained at the helm of Vogue.
We've heard the complaints and the issues that have been raised by everybody who works at Conde Nast and we're working towards, I think, a lot of very positive change, she told Swisher.