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Bela gets international attention over FHM controversy

Kapuso actress Bela Padilla is getting international media attention over her controversial cover photo for FHM Philippines’ March issue.

The“Hiram na Puso” star was interviewed by BBC News’ Mishal Hussein for the show “Impact” Tuesday, February 28.

During the interview, Bela explained the picture—which showed the fair-skinned 20-year-old actress wearing a bikini and surrounded by black women models—had no intention of being racist.

No intention to be racist

"I don't really have any idea that I would get such negative reaction. But I was proud with the cover we did because racism was totally out of our heads. So I didn't expect that we'd get negative feedback from it because we had no intention of discriminating anyone anyway," she said.

Bela added that she was also shocked when she read the caption for the cover, which read “Bela Padilla: Stepping Out of the Shadows.” But she explained that if “the people get to read the article there, then you would understand why FHM chose that caption.”

She also said of the black women models on the photo, “You have to see the article to understand the cover that we shot. Honestly, some of those girls were actually Filipinas painted in black, not to represent Africans, but we were really doing that to portray shadows because, like I said, it's my coming of age.”

“They wanted a symbolization of me getting out of my old shadow. So, they were all supposed to represent me. And we weren't thinking of harming anyone and we weren't thinking of racial discrimination,” Bela  explained.

Most-watched video

Bela’s BBC interview is posted on the news outfit’s website and is currently the most-watched video and among the top stories.

London’s The Telegraph and New York’s The Daily News also published stories about the issue.

“FHM pulls 'racist' magazine cover,” the headline of The Telegraph article reads, with the subheading “FHM in the Philippines has apologized and pulled its March cover after complaints that the image of a fair-skinned actress surrounded by dark-skinned models was racist.”

Meanwhile, The Daily News headline goes: “FHM Philippines magazine pulls its March cover featuring beauty Bela Padilla after‘racism’ outcry.”

Bela and FHM Philippines have apologized over the issue earlier this week

“When FHM hits the stands in March it will have a different cover. We deem this to be the most prudent move in the light of the confusion over the previous cover execution. We apologize and thank those who have raised their points. We apologize to Bela Padilla for any distress this may have caused her. In our pursuit to come up with edgier covers, we will strive to be more sensitive next time,” FHM Philippines said in a statement.

“I meant no harm with this cover. I'm so sorry to everyone who got offended. I hope all of you see the beauty of the cover and appreciate it,” Bela posted on her Twitter account Monday, February 27.