World Press Photo Suspends Credit for Historic ‘Napalm Girl’ Photo

World Press Photo has announced it will suspend the authorship attribution of the iconic 1972 image The Terror of War, widely known as the ‘Napalm Girl’ photo. This decision follows a recent investigation questioning whether longtime credit-holder Nick Út actually captured the historic shot.

Why Is the ‘Napalm Girl’ Photo’s Credit Suspended?

The controversy reignited after The VII Foundation’s 2024 documentary, The Stringer, suggested the photo might have been taken by Nguyễn Thành Nghệ, a Vietnamese military photographer, not Nick Út. The film questioned the original attribution, prompting World Press Photo to launch an independent investigation in January 2025.

Based on the investigation’s findings, including analysis of location, camera angles, and positions of photographers, the organisation concluded there is sufficient doubt about Út’s authorship to warrant suspending the credit.

Nick Út’s Longstanding Recognition Under Review

Nick Út, who was an Associated Press photographer at the time, captured the photo showing children, including nine-year-old Kim Phuc, fleeing a napalm attack. The image won World Press Photo of the Year (1973) and a Pulitzer Prize.

Despite the current controversy, the photograph’s historical impact is not in question. The non-profit organisation emphasized that the award for capturing that moment “remains a fact.”

AP Investigation Reached a Different Conclusion

The Associated Press conducted its own year-long investigation into the claims. The AP concluded there was no “definitive evidence” meeting its editorial standards to change the photo’s credit.

Nick Út’s lawyer, James Hornstein, criticized World Press Photo’s decision, suggesting it was a predetermined effort to discredit Út. He stated that the organization had limited contact with his client after the documentary’s release.

Documentary Director Calls It a ‘Turning Point’

Bao Nguyen, director of The Stringer, welcomed the suspension of attribution. He said it “signals a turning point” in how historical narratives are examined, especially regarding who gets to tell these stories and whose versions are believed.

Nguyen emphasized that the film is about power, representation, and historical accountability.

The Photo’s Legacy Remains Intact

While the photographer’s identity remains disputed, World Press Photo clarified that the authenticity of the image itself is undisputed. The organization admitted that it may never confirm the true author.

For now, the authorship attribution remains suspended, pending further evidence.

Do you believe historical photo credits should be re-examined if new evidence comes to light, even decades later?

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/the-terror-of-war-napalm-girl-world-press-photo-1.7537482 
• https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250516-world-press-photo-suspends-credit-for-napalm-girl-picture
• https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/may/16/napalm-girl-world-press-photo