We get it. Pre-nuptial photoshoots can get super — as millenials would say — “extra”, especially for celebrities.
Filipino celebrity couple Billy Crawford and Coleen Garcia had their photoshoot in Ethiopia featuring glam couture and gorgeous landscapes. It was shot by Oly Ruiz and published on Metro Style (Update: As of March 11, the post appears to have been taken down).
However, some photos from their session are causing quite a stir on social media.
Facebook user Rachel Ravana wrote, “I don’t think we should all admire a prenup photoshoot making background props out of Ethiopian women & children. These photos are heartbreaking & enraging at the same time. I understand that prenup photoshoots get so extra these days but to this extent?”
Ravana’s post has been shared over 8,100 times and earned more than 12,000 reactions in 12 hours.
While some are defending the couple and their photos, some commenters pointed out the insensitivity behind the photoshoot for using the residents of the African nation as mere “props”.
According to a report by CNN Philippines, photographer Oly Ruiz addressed the backlash saying, “We talked to these people and even asked permission. It’s actually offensive for people to interpret them as props… Why slaves? Because they are Africans? Dapat ba pinag gown din namin sila? (Should we have made them wear gowns?) These people are beautiful, how they are shot is how they are in real life, if you see them as slaves then I feel bad for you.”
Ruiz has since deleted said photos from his Instagram account.
