A bombshell documentary, The Stringer, has raised a stunning claim about the world-famous “Napalm Girl” photo, taken during the Vietnam War in 1972.
The image, which depicts a young girl, Kim Phúc, running in agony after a napalm attack, is considered one of the most powerful war photos ever captured.
However, The Stringer argues that the man credited with taking the photo, Nick Út, did not actually shoot it.
The Allegation
The film reveals that a local Vietnamese stringer, Nguyen Thanh Nghe, was the true photographer.
According to the documentary, an Associated Press (AP) photo editor, Carl Robinson, confirms that Út was not the one who took the iconic shot.
Instead, Nghe took the photo, but Út, a staff photographer, was credited with it. This has sparked a debate that could change the way history remembers the photo.
The Investigation
The claim was initially whispered in photojournalism circles but became public after Robinson’s 2022 email to Gary Knight, the executive director of the VII Foundation.
The documentary follows the two-year investigation, which uncovers details that suggest the photo’s attribution to Út was a result of editorial decisions, not factual accuracy.
The AP and Út have not responded to the allegations, and the AP stands by its original crediting of Út.
The Emotional Impact
Nghe, who had spent decades in anonymity, learned about the photo’s widespread publication long after it had been sold to the AP. His family had even discarded the print they received as proof.
The documentary sheds light on the emotional toll this misattribution had on Nghe, whose contribution to history was erased for over 50 years.
A Larger Issue
The film also highlights the systemic exploitation of local stringers, often with racist undertones, in photojournalism. It questions the ethical practices of major news outlets and raises broader issues of truth, justice, and historical accuracy.
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