NBC News accused of altering picture of swimmer Lia Thomas to be ‘more feminine’

NBC News has been accused of having digitally altered a photo of controversial transgender athlete Lia Thomas to make Thomas look less masculine.

During a “Today” segment last week, the network displayed at least one digitally altered photo, allegedly to give Thomas what critics say is a “feminine glow.”

Photographer Erica Denhoff alleged NBC’s “Today” show photoshopped her work to make transgender swimmer Lia Thomas look more feminine.

Denhoff told the Washington Examiner Wednesday that she was “surprised and disappointed” by the March 17 segment’s revisions, to which she said the outlet softened Thomas’ features. She initially thought something was wrong with the video when her photos aired, but then realized the changes were intentional.

“To me, it definitely looked like something was going on with the airbrushing/noise reduction of all the photos taken in this segment,” Denhoff said of NBC’s March 17 report.

“I pride myself on providing authentic images as a photojournalist,” Denhoff said. “It’s really important as photojournalists that we transmit authentic photos that have not been altered.”

Virginia Tech swimmer Reka Gyorgy, who missed qualifying to compete in the 500-freestyle by one place, criticized the NCAA for not adopting the USA Swimming’s policy that requires transgender women to prove their testosterone levels are below 5 nano moles per liter for 36 consecutive months.

“Every event that transgender athletes competed in was one spot taken away from biological females throughout the meet,” Gyrogy wrote in letter Monday.