L'Oreal Claims Not to Have Messed with Beyonce's Skin Tone

L'Oreal is denying claims that they lightened singer Beyonce's skin tone in a magazine hair color ad that was released Wednesday, E! Online reports.

When a new print ad for L'Oreal Paris's Feria hair color featuring the singer and actress was printed, readers noticed something strange about Beyonce's light skin tone. Some believed that the cosmetics giant altered their spokeswoman's skin color digitally, making it lighter than it actually is.

After online attacks suggested that the hair color campaign changed more than just the color of Beyonce's locks, the company released a statement to E! News, saying, "Beyonce Knowles has been a spokeswoman for the L'Oreal Paris brand since 2001," continuing on to say that they "highly value our [L'Oreal's] relationship with Ms. Knowles. It is categorically untrue that L'Oreal Paris altered Ms. Knowles's features or skin tone in the campaign for Feria's hair color."

When asked for a statement, representatives for the 27-year-old said that they had no comment beyond what was already stated by L'Oreal.

The ad, which is featured in magazines like Elle, Allure, and Essence, was released yesterday, and is available at newsstands. The magazines have thus far declined to comment, not releasing statements about possible Pantone issues.