Anne Hathaway’s Vogue cover faces backlash over poor editing: 'They just copy-pasted her into picture'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Vogue’s upcoming issue featuring Anne Hathaway on the cover has stirred strong criticism online, with many fans calling the visuals "unflattering" and largely blaming celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz for the execution.
The Oscar-winning actress, 42, appears on the magazine’s July 15 issue wearing a voluminous white embroidered top, with the fabric billowing dramatically.
While the fashion choice received some praise, the lighting and composition quickly became the target of widespread online backlash.
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Anne Hathaway’s Vogue cover slammed for ‘horrendous lighting’ and ‘bad photoshop’
Fans took to Reddit to criticize the shoot, calling it overly edited and poorly lit, with many accusing photographer Annie Leibovitz of making Anne Hathaway appear “copy-pasted” and “unflattering.”
“The coloring/white balance – these are awful. Makes her skin tone unflattering,” one user wrote. Another added, “Absolute horrendous lighting once again, thank you Annie Leibovitz.”
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One particularly scathing comment compared the aesthetic to a pop culture moment: “Why does it feel like the lighting in New Moon when Edward left Bella and she was peak depresso mood?”
Another Reddit user questioned the overall quality, writing, “It makes her look like they just copy-pasted her into the picture, omfg.”
Others speculated that heavy Photoshop might be to blame. “Is it not photoshopped badly? Like... is it a real photograph of Anne there?”
Annie Leibovitz under scrutiny again as fans say Anne Hathaway photos fail to capture her beauty
Annie Leibovitz, 74, is widely regarded as one of the most iconic portrait photographers in the world, with a portfolio that includes Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and members of the British royal family. But her recent Vogue cover shoot featuring Anne Hathaway has reignited criticism, with some viewers calling her work “overhyped.”
“Annie Leibovitz is right up there with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the master list of ‘Chronically Overhyped and Overrated,’” one commenter said.
“Classic Leibovitz move. Take a terribly lit photo, then crank up the contrast in post to get some detail,” another wrote.
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Several readers felt the photos failed to capture Hathaway’s natural beauty. “She’s incredibly beautiful and I like a lot of these outfits, but geez, the photography is unsatisfying,” one noted. Another added, “I take back what I said about Annie Leibovitz. You have to be really skilled to make Anne Hathaway look bad.”
This isn’t the first time Leibovitz’s work has faced backlash. In 2022, The Guardian labeled her portraits of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson “a disaster” and “dull.”
Similar critiques have also been directed at her past photos of Simone Biles, Serena Williams, and Rihanna.
Despite the growing criticism, neither Vogue nor Leibovitz has issued a public response. The issue is set to hit newsstands nationwide on July 15.
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