Horst Faas Archivist Defends Photo Editor Against 'The Stringer' Documentary's Credit-Swapping Allegations
Michael Ebert, the archivist for Horst Faas's estate, contests assertions made in Netflix's documentary 'The Stringer' regarding Faas allegedly transferring credit for the iconic 'Napalm Girl' image from freelancer to AP photographer Nick Ut. Ebert emphasizes that Faas, recognized for his integrity and dedication, would not engage in such behavior. The film suggests Faas altered the credit out of sympathy for Ut, whose brother had passed away. Although many key witnesses have died, those still living express doubt about the allegations. Ebert highlights inaccuracies in the documentary and critiques its journalistic integrity. Additionally, former journalist Fox Butterfield supports Ebert's stance. Nick Ut has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Netflix and the VII Foundation in response to these claims.
Key facts
- Horst Faas was Chief of Photos in Saigon during the Vietnam War and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1965.
- The Netflix documentary 'The Stringer' alleges Faas switched credit for the 'Napalm Girl' photo from a freelancer to Nick Ut.
- Michael Ebert, Faas's archivist, disputes the allegations, stating Faas was too upright and intelligent for such an act.
- Key witness Yuichi 'Jackson' Ishizaki, who developed the film, has died, but living witnesses view the claims skeptically.
- Fox Butterfield, a former New York Times journalist present at the scene, confirms Nick Ut took the photo.
- Carl Robinson, a photo editor in Saigon, claims Faas instructed him to misattribute the credit, but Ebert notes their relationship was strained.
- Faas was born in Berlin in 1933 and covered conflicts in Vietnam, Laos, the Congo, Algeria, and Bangladesh for AP from 1956 to 2004.
- Nick Ut has filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix and the VII Foundation over the documentary's claims.
Entities
Artists
- Horst Faas
- Nick Ut
- Eddie Adams
- Malcolm Browne
- Peter Arnett
- Tim Page
- Gary Knight
- Fox Butterfield
- Michael Ebert
- Carl Robinson
- Yuichi 'Jackson' Ishizaki
- Kim Phuc
- Fiona Turner
Institutions
- Associated Press
- Netflix
- VII Foundation
- German Society for Photography
- New York Times
- World Press Photo
- PetaPixel
- Variety
Locations
- Saigon
- Vietnam
- Berlin
- Germany
- New York
- United States
- Hannover
- Mekong Delta
- Trang Bang
- Laos
- Congo
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Cairo
- Egypt
- Uganda