French magazine L’Officiel is about to release its 90th anniversary issue, and Beyonce has posed for the occasion, in some photos that some might find a teensy bit offensive. Â Beyonce, who has quite fair skin naturally, agreed to darken her face with makeup for the photos in order to appear more like an “African queen” and get “back to her roots.”
Why an African queen couldn’t have lighter skin is anybody’s guess, and it’s a question that will no doubt come up again and again, as the pictures have already ruffled a few feathers both in France and internationally. Â Beyonce, however, stands by the photos, and L’Officiel’s statement is that Beyonce volunteered to wear the dark makeup, so that makes it okay.