Vogue Editorial Director On Kamala Harris Cover: We Didn’t Intend To Diminish VP-Elect's 'Incredible Victory'

Anna Wintour broke her silence on the controversy involving Kamala Harris' magazine cover and explained why they chose the much-talked-about photo.

Wintour, 71, released a statement on Tuesday after Vogue received intense backlash for Harris' cover photo for the magazine’s February issue. Many disapproved of the photo featuring Harris wearing sneakers with a pink and green backdrop saying it was "disrespectful" to the first woman of color U.S. vice president-elect.

The Vogue's global editorial director explained why they selected an informal photo and explained that they didn't intend to disrespect or discredit Harris of her accomplishments.

"Obviously we have heard and understood the reaction to the print cover and I just want to reiterate that it was absolutely not our intention to, in any way, diminish the importance of the Vice President-Elect's incredible victory," Wintour said in a statement to The New York Times.

She also made it clear that there was no formal agreement about which photo to feature on the cover, but they chose an informal one to let the public see how approachable and relatable Harris is.

"There was no formal agreement about what the choice of the cover would be. And when the two images arrived at Vogue, all of us felt very, very strongly that the less formal portrait of the Vice President-Elect really reflected the moment that we were living in which we are all in the midst — as we still are — of the most appalling pandemic that is taking lives by the minute," she added.

"And we felt to reflect this tragic moment in global history, a much less formal picture, something that was very, very accessible and approachable and real, really reflected the hallmark of the Biden-Harris campaign and everything that they are trying to, and I'm sure will, achieve."

Photographer Tyler Mitchell, who captured the shots, has already spoken about the issue. He stressed that the picture selected was a tribute to Harris' sorority days, particularly the colors in the backdrop.

"With this cover shoot with Madam Vice President-Elect Harris, I wanted the set design to pay homage to that history, to her status as an AKA, and Black sororities and sisterhoods worldwide," he said.

"To me, their colors conjure images of Black women standing together. [United] in sisterhood throughout time, affirming one another."