Was Gabourey's Elle Cover photoshopped?

Critics are outraged and claim that actress Gabourey Sidibe not only seems to have been digitally lightened, but that the plus-size star was not depicted in the same type of full-body photo as the other three cover models and that her hair style is unflattering. But a statement from Elle says these critics are analyzing the situation way too much.Elle said, “Nothing out of the ordinary was done. We have four separate covers this month and Gabby’s cover was not retouched any more or less than the others… If you take a look at the portfolio, each of the women were shot in different ways and for different reasons.”
What do you think? Was this a conspiracy to make Gabby more acceptable to Elle’s readers? Or just the latest case of Photoshop gone wrong? What are your thoughts?

Gabby on the cocer for the September issue, and Gabby in January 2010.