In an effort to stave off mean Internet rumors, Vibe editor Danyel Smith took to the airwaves on Friday, insisting to anyone within earshot of New York City’s KISS-FM that, contrary to all that chatter, Ciara was definitely not wearing any clothes when she was photographed for the magazine’s current cover. And that the atmosphere was one that was all love, all the time!

“It’s just dramatic,” Smith said during the interview. “I’m actually really sad. Almost any photo you see on the cover of Vibe or any magazine is airbrushed [to some degree]. What I was thinking of doing, actually, was releasing the unretouched photos [on Vibe's] Web site, so people can see what the hullabaloo is all about.”

Smith said she was not present for the shoot but was told by her staff “it was love and kisses and nakedness.

“I have so much respect for Ciara,” she continued, “and Ciara was so happy when she pitched this idea to us, and the photos are actually striking and beautiful. … It was pitched to me in a way that it was time [for her] to grow up and be beautiful and be free and be all the things she wanted to be.”

Smith added that she suspects Ciara may not actually be as upset about the photos “as it’s been made to seem,” and reiterated that the magazine has not been sued by Ciara or anyone representing her. “Vibe would never put anybody out there — man, woman or child — in some way that they did not agree to be,” Smith said. “We have no history of doing that.”

Well, glad that’s cleared up! Looks like the only mystery remaining involves who, exactly, picked out those not-even-stripper-quality shoes for the shoot, and whether or not they were fired for not having eyes.

Ciara Was Nude In Photo Shoot – Vibe Editor [MTV]
Earlier: Is Ciara Mad That “Vibe” Opened Her Up To A Lot Of “Goodies”-Related Puns?