Vogue cover controversy
Megan K. Scott, Associated Press
Thursday, March 27, 2008
- Email this
- Print this
- Comments
- Change text size
- Subscribe to print edition
- iPod friendly
When Vogue announced its April cover starring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen, the magazine noted with some fanfare that James was the first black man to grace its cover.
But the image is stirring up controversy, with some commentators decrying the photo as perpetuating racial stereotypes. James strikes what some see as a gorilla-like pose, baring his teeth, with one hand dribbling a ball and the other around Bundchen's tiny waist.
It's an image some have likened to "King Kong" and Fay Wray.
"It conjures up this idea of a dangerous black man," said Tamara Walker, 29, of Philadelphia.
Photographer Annie Leibovitz shot the 6-foot-9 NBA star and the 5-foot-11 Brazilian model for the cover and an inside spread. Vogue spokesman Patrick O'Connell said the magazine "sought to celebrate two superstars at the top of their game" for the magazine's annual issue devoted to size and shape.
"We think Lebron James and Gisele Bundchen look beautiful together and we are honored to have them on the cover," he said.
James told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer he was pleased with the cover, saying he was "just showing a little emotion." But magazine analyst Samir Husni believes the photo was deliberately provocative, adding that it "screams King Kong."
In a column at ESPN.com, Jemele Hill called the cover "memorable for all the wrong reasons."
Comments
Posted by Marshdale on March 27, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lebron is not complaining. Gisele is hot
Posted by arby on March 29, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What other non event can we raise to earth shaking proportions while the real earth is going right down the drain. As Marshdale said. Gisele is hot. Maybe Lebron got a date out of the shoot. Anyway, he's not compaining, she's not complaining. Why should we?
Post your comment (Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.