World Press Photo claims Napalm Girl likely not taken by Nick Ut

Photographer Nick Ut and Ms. Kim Phuc, also the napalm girl in the classic photo - Photo: NVCC

One of the world's most famous photos of the Vietnam War, commonly known as the Napalm Girl , is now at the center of controversy half a century after its recognition.

The World Press Photo Awards have just announced that they will temporarily stop certifying the author of the photo, which won the highest award in 1973.

Controversy over Napalm Girl heats up after half a century

The photo, originally titled The Terror of War , captures the moment when 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc, naked, runs desperately down a village road in Trang Bang ( Tay Ninh ) after a napalm bomb attack.

The image became a global anti-war symbol and has long been credited as the work of photojournalist Huynh Cong Ut (Nick Ut), then 21 years old, working for the AP news agency in Saigon.

A scene from The Stringer, the documentary that sparked controversy over the true owner of the Napalm Girl photo - Photo: Sundance

The photo not only won the 1973 World Press Photo award but also contributed to Nick Ut's reputation as one of the most famous war correspondents of the 20th century.

However, the documentary The Stringer, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025, claimed that the real photographer was Nguyen Thanh Nghe - a driver who worked for NBC and also collaborated on selling photos to AP.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghe also appeared at the film screening at Sundance and confirmed the entire story in the film.

According to the film, Mr. Nghe sold the photo to the head of the AP photo bureau in Saigon for $20 and kept a print.

Witnesses in the film, including Mr. Nghe's relatives, veteran photojournalists who worked in Vietnam, and forensic experts, all confirmed that it was highly likely that Nick Ut was not the real author.

Under public pressure, World Press Photo was forced to launch an independent investigation from January to May 2025.

The conclusion said that based on the location, distance and type of camera used that day, it is highly likely that the photographer was Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghe or Huynh Cong Phuc - another reporter present at the scene.

Filmmaker Jenni Trang Le (left) and former photographer Nguyen Thanh Nghe, who claims to be the real owner of the Napalm Girl photo at the Sundance Film Festival - Photo: AFP

Although the organization did not deny the authenticity of the photo, it decided to temporarily suspend its recognition of Nick Ut as the author. However, the results of the 1973 World Press Photo award remained unchanged.

"This is a controversial piece of history and it is likely that we will never be able to determine exactly who took the photo. The attribution suspension will remain in place until there is more definitive evidence," World Press Photo said.

Previously on May 7, the Associated Press (AP) released a 97-page report, declaring that it still maintains the copyright of the photo Napalm Girl by Nick Ut. AP affirmed that there was no convincing evidence to change the author's information.

They admitted that it was “possible” that Nick Ut was the photographer, but found no evidence that Mr. Nghe took the photo. AP emphasized that after more than 50 years, accurate verification is extremely difficult because time has erased evidence, equipment is limited, and many key witnesses have passed away.

"Extensive image analysis, witness interviews, and examination of all photos taken on June 8, 1972, indicate that Ut likely took the photo. There is no documentation to suggest that someone else took it," said spokeswoman Lauren Easton.

TO CUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/world-press-photo-tuyen-bo-em-be-napalm-co-kha-nang-khong-phai-do-nick-ut-chup-20250516194350907.htm