Vanity Fair France has issued a public apology after it published an edited photo of Guy Pearce which removed a Palestinian flag from the actor’s lapel. 

The French division of the entertainment publication admitted to wiping the pin from the photo, saying it was a mistake. 

“We have mistakenly published a modified version of this photo on the site,” Vanity Fair France wrote. “The original version was posted on Instagram the same day. We have rectified our mistake and we apologize.” 

The photograph in question was taken earlier this month at the Cannes Film Festival, which Mr. Pearce attended in support of director David Cronenberg’s upcoming film “The Shrouds.” Like many other actors attending the festival, he posed for a photograph with Vanity Fair. 

Throughout the festival, Mr. Pearce was spotted with the green, white and black Palestinian flag pin on his lapel. However, when the photos appeared on Vanity Fair France’s social media page, fans immediately noticed the pin’s absence. 

The Cannes Film Festival did not endorse or distribute the pins advocating for Palestinians or for the hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas.

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.