Lilli Cooper has called out Us Weekly after an apparent photo mix-up in the publication's 'Spring Awakening: Where Are They Now?' feature showed another Black actress alongside Cooper's name. The Broadway star's reaction has sparked online discussion about the way Black actresses are identified and represented in entertainment coverage.
The issue centres on a feature first published in 2024 that looked back at the original cast of the hit musical. While Us Weekly correctly identified Cooper as the actress who originated the role of Martha, the photo used with her section has been questioned after readers noticed it appeared to show actress Kalyne Coleman instead.
Us Weekly's 'Spring Awakening' Feature
Us Weekly published its 'Spring Awakening' cast retrospective on 25 August 2024, with writers Miranda Siwak and Nicole Massabrook looking at what happened to the show's original Broadway stars. The feature revisited major names from the musical, including Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, Skylar Astin and Lilli Cooper.
Cooper's section clearly names her as the actress who originated the role of Martha. The article also highlights some of her later work, including appearances in The Post, The Good Fight, The Code, Dynasty and Fraggle Rock.
The concern is not about the written description of Cooper. Instead, attention has focused on the image placed with her section, which readers online have identified as appearing to show another Black actress, Kalyne Coleman.
Cooper's Reaction Draws Attention
Cooper's response has since circulated online after she called attention to the apparent mix-up. A viral Reddit post shared the issue claiming that the Broadway star had called out Us Magazine for using another Black actress's photo in place of hers, prompting users to discuss the apparent mistake.
The discussion quickly focused on the fact that the Us Weekly article had been online since 2024. Some users questioned why the image had apparently remained connected to Cooper's section, while others pointed to the Getty Images credit shown on the page. Those comments are from social media users and should not be treated as proof that the error was deliberate.
Cooper also shared another Instagram Story showing the Usmagazine.com website displaying a 'This site can't be reached' error. The screenshot, posted from her verified account, included a large laughing emoji, adding another light but pointed moment to the online reaction surrounding the story.
The Photo Credit Adds Another Question
The Us Weekly feature displays a Getty Images credit with Cooper's section, while the page also includes Getty credits throughout its cast retrospective. That has led online readers to question how the image was selected and labelled in the first place.
However, there is no reliable evidence at this point showing that Us Weekly intentionally used Coleman's image because she is a Black actress. The available evidence supports describing the situation as an apparent photo identification error rather than making a claim about the publication's intent.
The distinction is important because photo mistakes can happen at several stages, including image selection, captions, credits and publishing. Without a statement from Us Weekly or Getty explaining what happened, it would be unfair to turn the apparent mix-up into a claim of deliberate discrimination.
Cooper Appears To Laugh off Us Magazine Website Error
Cooper appeared to poke fun at the situation in another Instagram Story after the photo mix-up drew attention online. She shared a screenshot showing the Usmagazine.com website with a 'This site can't be reached' error message.
The actress added a laughing-and-crying emoji to the post, suggesting she was amused by the website issue rather than offering a lengthy statement. The Story also showed the Us Magazine web address at the top of the screen.
Her latest post adds another layer to the public reaction, coming after she called attention to the apparent photo mix-up involving the 'Spring Awakening' feature. However, the screenshot alone does not show that the website error was connected to the earlier photo issue.
