Ukraine first lady's Vogue cover shoot was panned. One media expert says it was because it wasn't relatable.

The Vogue cover shoot of Ukraine's first lady was panned on social media, with Republicans using it to criticize the US support forUkraine, and conspiracy theorists to bolster their false claims

Olena Zelenka, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue.

The pictures, which were published in a digital article titled "Portrait of Bravery" earlier this week, will be on the cover of the magazine.

One photo showed Zelenska sitting hunched on the marble steps of the presidential palace while another showed her standing near the bombed out remains of the An-225 Mriya.

—Annie Leibovitz (@annieleibovitz) July 27, 2022

Some people said the story was a bad attempt to glamorize Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which appears to have no end in sight five months on.

The photos were used by conspiracy theorists to make a false claim that the war in Ukraine was real.

They were used by some Republicans in the US to attack President Joe Biden.

Zelenskyy is doing photo shoots for Vogue. The people think we are a bunch of suckers.

"Biden, let's continue to send billions of dollars in foreign aid to Ukraine, they need it!" said Mayra Flores. The Zelensky family is going to be on the cover of Vogue magazine.

The photoshoot was exactly what we'd expect from Annie Leibovitz and Vogue, according to Robert E. Gutsche, a senior lecturer in digital media practice.

It may be visually pleasing for some people, but others may not be able to relate to the "glitz and glamour" of it.

Across Europe and other parts of the world, there is a lack of representation of the people who have been dispersed.

The war that really doesn't fit here is the glamour of war.

Gutsche thinks that the media shouldn't just portray images of casualties and blood, but there are many decisive moments in the photoshoot that are open for a critique.

Zelenska defended her decision to take part in the Vogue photo shoot, saying that she was using every opportunity to speak about her country. Millions of people read Vogue. It was my duty to speak to them directly.

The interview only took a few hours, according to her.

Someone will always criticize. She said it was better to do something and be criticized than not do anything.

Vogue did not reply immediately.