Beyonce lightened for L'Oreal?

Did L'Oréal 'whitewash' Beyoncé in latest ad campaign?

A picture of Beyonce in a L'Oréal ad campaign is causing a furore in the US – with critics suggesting the beauty giant has tampered with the pictures to make the star look paler.

The singer appears in an advert for a Feria highlighting kit – which explains the strawberry blonde hair – but US newspapers have accused L'Oreal of 'whitewashing' the pics by digitally lightening her skin.

The New York Post, under the headline Beyoncé The Pale, called the advert 'shocking' and accused the company of making the singer look like a 'weird, nearly white version of herself'.

US gossip website TMZ called the advert 'severely Photoshopped', adding: 'L'Oréal has some serious explaining to do about its bleached-out Beyoncé ad!'

It is, however, unlikely that Knowles would have let the advert run if she herself had a problem with it. Her spokesman yesterday declined to comment.

And L'Oréal yesterday denied the claims, stating: 'It is categorically untrue that L'Oréal Paris altered Ms Knowles' features or skin tone in the campaign.'

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