Mag denies lightening Padma's skin on its cover

TV Guide magazine declines lightening Lakshmi’s skin tone on its latest cover.

New York: TV Guide magazine has taken a stance against claims that they lightened Padma Lakshmi’s skin tone on its latest cover.

After the Dec. 6 issue of the television-themed magazine hit newsstands Thursday, PopEater.com posted a story suggesting the Indian-American ‘Top Chef’ host’s skin colour was digitally altered. However, in a statement given on Friday morning, TV Guide insisted Lakshmi, 40, wasn`t retouched. “If her skin appears lighter, it`s because we shot her in a brightly lit diner as part of the cover concept. We did our normal color correcting, which is standard for printing,” the New York Daily News quoted the statement. “Padma`s skin tone is beautiful, and we did nothing to adjust it,” it added. Meanwhile, Lakshmi didn’t seem fazed by the website`s claims, at least on Twitter. “Many thx to TVGuide for a great and gorgeous cover. Delightful team, and a really fun and easy shoot,” she tweeted Thursday. ANI