Kerry Washington has a legion of fans that not only love her work as Olivia Pope on ABC's Scandal, but they are also quick to rush to her defense the second they think she is not being treated well. The actress graces the March cover of In Style magazine and gives an incredible interview within its pages, but unfortunately there is something quite off about the cover. It looks like Washington's skin had been digitally lightened and her fans reacted with outrage. Always gracious, Washington has managed to maneuver through the negativity and has emerged grateful for the conversation the cover has started.

To its credit, In Style issued a statement saying that it did not alter Washington's skin tone but that it probably happened when the cover lighting was done. This situation made it think of an issue that had never been raised before, and it claimed that it will now be taken into consideration with each issue.

Washington spoke with Access Hollywood about the scandal and still gushed about this issue, saying:

"There are so many images in the magazine that I really love and I'm very proud of the article. It's one of the most personal articles I've ever done and I think the fact that the cover is really triggering feelings for people, it's fantastic because it's bringing up a conversation that needs to be had. I think the magazine responded in a really beautiful way and as long as we keep having that conversation, that's what matters most."

What a great job of acknowledging the issue and welcoming the dialogue while still directing fans to grab a copy. No doubt Washington's response left everyone feeling better about the debacle. Here is the real question, though: Do you think the cover lighting really was to blame, or did the magazine tweak things a little too much and learn a valuable lesson in the process? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

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