Controversy Surrounds Iconic ‘Napalm Girl’ Photo in New Netflix Documentary

The individual asserting he captured the famous “Napalm Girl” photo, a significant image from the Vietnam War, has shared his perspective in a recent documentary. Meanwhile, the Associated Press continues to support the photographer traditionally credited with the image.

Netflix’s documentary, titled “Stringer: The Man Who Took the Picture,” explores the debate over the rightful credit for the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph, which gained worldwide attention in 1972. The film alleges that Associated Press photographer Nick Ut has been misattributed and seeks to identify the real person behind the camera, Nguyen Thanh Ne.

“Nick Ut was with me on the mission, but he didn’t actually take the photo. He shot from a distance. That photo belongs to me,” Ne asserts in the documentary released last week.

The Vietnamese photojournalist revealed that he was “rarely” acknowledged for his work during the war, receiving credit only in selected instances. He recounted how he was given just $20 for the photograph, which he promptly used to treat friends to drinks.

The documentary stems from Carl Robinson, an AP photo editor who worked in the Saigon bureau when the photo was taken. Robinson stated that her supervisor, respected photojournalist Horst Firth, instructed her to give credit to Ut, a choice that she made out of concern for her job. This decision has weighed on her conscience for over five decades. Firth passed away in 2012, and Ut did not contribute to the film.

Gary Knight, a photojournalist and executive producer of “Stringer,” remarked that Ut also suffered due to the situation. Knight reflected, saying, “I was never consulted. It was just handed to him. It feels reckless.” 

In an investigation earlier this year, the Associated Press acknowledged that while it’s possible Ut took the photo, definitive proof is lacking due to time passing, the deaths of major players involved, and technological limitations. The organization conceded that the new findings raise unresolved questions. They maintain, however, that without clear evidence disproving Ut’s authorship, his credit remains.

In a statement, Ut’s attorney, James Hornstein, criticized the documentary, claiming it lacks substantial evidence against Ut’s authorship, stating, “No negatives, no contact sheets, no prints… only a narrow group of individuals argues otherwise.” He pointed out that Ne and his family are among the few supporting this alternative perspective, while no independent journalists or AP staff contest Ut’s role.

Hornstein added, “The sparse support for the claim is puzzling. If credible evidence existed to challenge Nick Ut’s authorship, it wouldn’t be limited to just a handful of voices.” Netflix has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the documentary.