Karlie Kloss Apologizes for Posing as a Geisha in 'Vogue' Magazine's Diversity Issue
Karlie Kloss is regretting her involvement in a photo shoot for Vogue's "diversity-themed" March issue.
The 24-year-old supermodel apologized on Wednesday for posing as a geisha in the controversial photos, after receiving backlash.
"These images appropriate a culture that is not my own and I am truly sorry for participating in a shoot that was not culturally sensitive," Kloss tweeted. "My goal is, and always will be, to empower and inspire women. I will ensure my future shoots and projects reflect that mission."
In the photos -- shot by photographer Mikael Jansson in Japan -- Kloss wears white powder on her face and dons traditional geisha clothing, as well as poses with a sumo wrestler. Some called the photo shoot "yellowface," and criticized the magazine's decision to cast a white woman in an Asian-themed photoshoot.
Vogue has since removed the photos from its website.
This isn't the first time Kloss has been accused of cultural appropriation. She was embroiled in another controversy at the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, where she wore a Native American-inspired headdress with a fringe bikini and heels down the runway.
Kloss also apologized in 2012, tweeting, "I am deeply sorry if what I wore during the VS Show offended anyone. I support VS's decision to remove the outfit from the broadcast."
Ironically, Vogue's March issue is meant to celebrate diversity, with Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Ashley Graham gracing the cover alongside models Adwoa Aboah, Liu Wen, Vittoria Ceretti and Imaan Hammam.
"With all that's going on in the world, this cover makes such an important statement," Jenner told the magazine about her involvement. It's like, hey, we've got our differences, but those differences are beautiful. Everyone is beautiful."
Last week, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Chloe Bennet -- whose father is Chinese-American -- spoke out against "ignorant" jokes aimed at Asian people. calling out Steve Harvey and Gigi Hadid. Hadid was seen seemingly mocking "Asian eyes" in an Instagram story earlier this month, squinting as she held up a Buddha cookie while out to dinner with friends.
"Dear Gigi Hadid, As a kid, (and frankly as an adult) people would make fun of me for being Chinese. For having 'Asian eyes,'" Bennet wrote on Instagram, alongside a throwback pic of her as a young girl. "I would laugh it off because it was always a 'joke,' and if I didn't I was being 'too sensitive.' In reality it made me feel horrible."
Watch below for Bennet's empowering message to young Asian men and women.