Debate Erupts Over Authorship of Iconic ‘Napalm Girl’ Photo

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — World Press Photo announced on May 16, 2025, that it has suspended its attribution of the iconic 1972 photo known as “The Terror of War” or “Napalm Girl” to photographer Nick Ut. This decision comes as new investigations raise doubts about who truly captured the impactful image of a young girl fleeing from a napalm attack during the Vietnam War.

The photo, which won World Press Photo’s “Photo of the Year” award in 1973, has been attributed to Ut for over fifty years. However, a recent documentary titled “The Stringer” claims that the image may have been taken by Vietnamese freelance photographer Nguyen Thanh Nghe. The film asserts that Nghe was present at the scene when 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc became a symbol of war’s horrors.

Nghe, along with a few others, was stationed at a highway checkpoint outside the village of Trang Bang on June 8, 1972. They witnessed South Vietnamese forces mistakenly attack the villagers, leading to the tragic events captured in the photograph. While Ut has consistently defended his authorship, his attorney, Jim Hornstein, described World Press Photo’s decision to suspend attribution as “deplorable and unprofessional,” arguing it lacks supporting evidence.

The AP has conducted its own investigations, finding “no definitive evidence” to contest Ut’s claim to the photograph. The agency welcomed the findings, emphasizing the absence of substantial proof to deny Ut’s authorship and suggesting the claim requires several assumptions.

World Press Photo’s executive director, Joumana El Zein Khoury, stated that although there is significant doubt regarding the attribution, they cannot definitively assign authorship to another photographer without conclusive evidence. The organization’s report pointed to unresolved questions, including the positioning of the photographers relative to the photograph’s vantage point.

Earlier this month, Ut expressed his relief at the AP’s findings, highlighting the challenges and emotional toll that the authorship controversy has caused him. He recounted the moment he took the photo, recalling, “I saw Kim running and she screamed ‘Too hot! Too hot!’” Ut emphasized his immediate response to help the injured children after he captured the haunting image.

Despite the ongoing debates and investigations, the photograph remains a powerful reminder of the Vietnam War and its implications, continuing to elicit discussions about authorship and historical accuracy.