Instagram backlash over first Vogue Hong Kong cover featuring Gigi Hadid, accused in China of racism

Magazine posted first cover online, featuring Chinese model Fei Fei Sun and Hadid, but took down image of the latter after a flood of negative comments

Picturing Sun in Chanel haute couture may also put sister publication Vogue China’s nose out of joint; its April cover has Sun in a very similar Chanel outfit

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Two of the covers of the debut edition of Vogue Hong Kong, featuring Chinese model Fei Fei Sun (left) and Sun with Gigi Hadid.

Published: 2:57pm, 2 Mar 2019Updated: 2:57pm, 2 Mar 2019

Vogue Hong Kong debuted its much-awaited first cover on Instagram on March 1. The magazine hired British photographer Nick Knight to shoot American model Gigi Hadid and Chinese model Fei Fei Sun.

Clad in Chanel haute couture, the models grace three different covers: on one of them they appear together, while on the other two they pose on their own.

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The choice of Hadid, who in 2017 was accused of racism in China for posting a video of herself screwing up her eyes to mimic the Buddha, was not well received on Instagram.

A flurry of negative comments led the magazine to take down the cover featuring Hadid, who is pictured standing against a futuristic silver background, from its Instagram account.

The Instagram post, since deleted, of the Vogue Hong Kong debut cover featuring model Gigi Hadid, who was accused in China of racism for a video post in 2017 of her screwing up her eyes to mimic the Buddha. Photo: courtesy of Instagram

Reaction on Instagram to Vogue Hong Kong’s post

Instagram backlash over first Vogue Hong Kong cover featuring Gigi Hadid, accused in China of racism

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Chinese boycott of Dolce & Gabbana continues at Milan Fashion Week