World Press Photo suspends credit for ‘Napalm Girl’ image

World Press Photo has suspended the credit of Associated Press photographer Nick Ut for the iconic Vietnam War photograph commonly known as “Napalm Girl,” citing unresolved questions about its authorship. The decision follows renewed scrutiny raised by a recent documentary that challenges Ut’s long-standing attribution.

The 1972 image, officially titled “The Terror of War,” shows 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc running naked on a road after a napalm bombing. It won the Pulitzer Prize and World Press Photo of the Year in 1973 and became one of the most searing symbols of the Vietnam War.

The controversy stems from “The Stringer,” a 2025 documentary directed by Bao Nguyen. The film presents testimonies and visual analysis suggesting that freelance photographers Nguyen Thanh Nghe or Huynh Cong Phuc may have captured the image, not Ut. Nghe claims he sold the photo to the AP for $20 but never received formal credit.

In response, World Press Photo launched an internal investigation and reviewed archival materials, camera angles and witness statements. The organization concluded that the doubts were substantial enough to suspend Ut’s credit, though it has not reassigned authorship due to lack of definitive evidence.

Ut has denied the claims, saying he remembers taking the photo and helping Phan Thi Kim Phuc get medical care. His attorney, James Hornstein, criticized World Press Photo’s decision, telling The Art Newspaper that Ut “cannot fathom why the World Press Photo Foundation would rescind his rightful award 52 years after making it.” In a statement to the Associated Press, Hornstein added, “It seems they had already made up their mind to punish Nick Ut from the start.”

The AP has conducted two reviews of its own, reaffirming Ut’s credit. In a statement, the AP said it found no compelling evidence to override decades of attribution, but acknowledged that the passage of time limits further verification.

Phan Thi Kim Phuc has also spoken in support of Ut. “He took the picture, and he saved my life,” she told The Guardian. “Without him, I would have died.”

While the image’s historical significance remains uncontested, the suspension reflects ongoing debates about ownership, credit and accuracy in journalism. World Press Photo said it will maintain the suspended status until new evidence clearly confirms or refutes Ut’s authorship.