On Wednesday, "Scandal" star Kerry Washington took to Instagram to unveil her InStyle cover to her fans. And while some fans praised Washington's cover, others slammed InStyle for allegedly photoshopping the photo and lightening Washington's skin tone, the Huffington Post reports.

"It looks nothing like you. If you did not say it was you I was going to ask who it was . I hate that they lightened and photoshopped you so much," Instagram user tasheek wrote.

Another Instagram user, aolbuffy29 wrote, "They clearly lightened it or put some sort of filter on it.. just wish they hadn't done that. but nothing could make this woman look bad."

Following the backlash, InStyle released a statement insisting that it did not photoshop Washington's cover and named the photo shoot lighting as the reason for Washington's lighter complexion.

"We have heard from those who have spoken out about our newsstand cover photograph, concerned that Kerry's skin tone was lightened. While we did not digitally lighten Kerry's skin tone, our cover lighting has likely contributed to this concern," InStyle said in a statement on its website. "We understand that this has resulted in disappointment and hurt. We are listening, and the feedback has been valuable. We are committed to ensuring that this experience has a positive influence on the ways in which we present all women going forward."

Washington did not address the backlash, but she did thank InStyle via Twitter for releasing its statement and sparking a conversation that "needed to be had."

Washington's InStyle cover still remains on her Instagram page. A few days later she posted another photo of herself at the NAACP Image Awards with her natural and darker complexion along with a Zuhair Murad red gown, Ferragamo clutch and Cathy Waterman jewelry.

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