Kendall Jenner blasted over ‘afro’ hairstyle as Vogue responds to ‘cultural appropriation’ claims

American Vogue has apologised after landing in hot water for styling Kendall Jenner’s hair in an “afro.”

The publication released an image from the November editorial featuring the 22-year-old model with teased hair puffed up in what some felt resembled an afro hairstyle.

Some readers took aim at what they claimed was a “white model modelling a black hairstyle.”

However, the publication has since issued a statement insisting that no offence was intended.

View this post on Instagram

Fifteen years and 150 finalists later, the @CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund prize has created global stars, local heroes, a must-watch New York Fashion Week, and, most important, a true sense of community among designers of all ages and backgrounds—all with differing aesthetic and commercial aspirations—who communicate, collaborate, and essentially care for one another through the fun and not-so-fun times. Laura Vassar Brock—one of the founders of 2016 #CVFF winner Brock Collection—says, “We spoke to a few friends who had gone through it, and they all said the same thing: that the Fashion Fund is a life-changing experience. And indeed it was!” Tap the link in our bio to learn more. Photographed by @mikaeljansson, styled by @tonnegood, Vogue, November 2018

A post shared by Vogue (@voguemagazine) on Oct 19, 2018 at 1:29pm PDT

A representative told E! News: “The image is meant to be a update of the romantic Edwardian/Gibson Girl hair which suits the period feel of the Brock Collection, and also the big hair of the ’60s and the early 70’s, that puffed-out, teased-out look of those eras.

“We apologise if it came across differently than intended, and we certainly did not mean to offend anyone by it.”

The image first sparked a backlash after it was unveiled on Friday in a bid to mark fifteen years of Council of Fashion Designers America.

However, it was soon blasted as being “very disrespectful” with readers prompting the magazine to “just hire a natural black woman.”

One user wrote: “Meanwhile us with Afro can’t get the job!”

Another commented: “Whitewashing pop culture, one magazine cover at a time.”

Meanwhile, others encouraged the magazine not to apologise, with one user posting: “I was more than happy to call out Vogue's racist cultural appropriation when it actually happened.

“But people seriously calling this look an afro is embarrassing and show their own lack of cultural knowledge. This looks more like a Victorian/Edwardian era aesthetic than a type 4 hair afro. It's white European culture for a white magazine with a white model. Some of you can't be serious...(sic).”