8 Controversial Magazine Covers That Were Accused of Being Racist

FHM Philippines Glorifies Light Skin The magazine is known for provocative, racy covers, but the magazine’s readers believed this 2012 cover stepped well beyond the lines of what was appropriate. Before this cover even hit stands, protesters demanded that the cover be changed when FHM Philippines released an early look on social media. Light-skinned actress Bela Padilla is the star of the cover, but an insensitive tagline and racially charged concept really stole the attention. A tagline reads “Stepping out of the shadows,” as a group of dark-skinned models surround her and appear to be glorifying her. “Seriously, did you guys not sense how racist this concept was,” one reader commented. To make matters worse, rumors suggest that at least one of the dark-skinned models is actually a white woman painted to be Black. If that’s true, the cover glorifies lighter skin, devalues darker skin and embraces blackface all in the same photo. Vogue’s 2008 LeBron James Controversy In 2008, LeBron James became the first Black man to appear on the cover of Vogue, according to The Daily Beast. As the first Black man on the cover, James’ role was clear — he was the giant ape carrying a petite white woman away. The NBA star is seen with an intense expression as he has his arm around model Gisele Bundchen. Critics suggested James was taking on the role of King Kong and embracing the negative stereotypes of Black men. “…Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James seems to be embodying ugly stereotypes about black men: The wild, savage, white-woman-obsessed beast,” Jezebel pointed out. Time Darkens O.J. Simpson’s Skin for ‘American Tragedy’ Cover Magazines have had a history of lightening Black celebrities’ skin when they want them to appear “more beautiful,” so the decision to darken O.J. Simpson’s skin on its 1994 cover was sure to spark discussions of the magazine’s intentions. Time’s cover featured a mug shot of Simpson that significantly darkened and, according to some, embraced the stereotype that darker complexions are associated with more evil, vilified intentions. Beyonce as an African Queen on L’Officiel Paris in 2011 When L’Officiel revealed that it would have an “African Queen” inspired cover and spread in one of its 2011 magazine issues, it seemed like the perfect time for the French publication to welcome a dark-skinned model to its glossy pages. Instead, however, it called on Beyonce. Critics pointed out that while Beyonce should absolutely embrace her African roots, it “would have been nice for a dark-skinned woman to get this opportunity,” one Twitter user wrote. To make matters worse, the magazine used makeup to darken Beyonce’s skin — not only delivering another blow to dark-skinned models who could have taken on the cover but also suggesting that one’s “African-ness” is attached to skin color. “When you paint your face darker in order to look more ‘African,’ aren’t you reducing an entire continent, full of different nations, tribes, cultures and histories, into one brown color,” Jezebel wrote of the controversy. “… By painting Beyonce’s face darker, aren’t the French fashion editors basically treating her like they would a white model … and not an actual, authentic black person with African heritage?” Esquire’s 1934 Cover Features Offensive Portrayal of a Black Boy It might not be surprising that a magazine catering to upper-class white readers was once at the center of allegations of racism. In June 1934, the magazine featured its then-mascot, Esky, trying to hit a golf ball out of a sand trap. At the top of the hill, however, one can see a stereotypical and seemingly offensive portrayal of a Black boy lying on the grass. Critics also pointed out that while Esky was dressed in nice golf attire, the Black character was seen in a T-shirt, “high-water pants” and had no shoes on. Golfweek Uses a Noose for Its Cover Golfweek was in the midst of serious controversy in 2008 when the magazine featured a noose on its cover along with the line “Caught in a noose.” The cover came during a time that racially charged language was constantly being used as Tiger Woods dominated the sport. Analysts on the Golf Channel, days before the cover was released, were on air when Nick Faldo suggested that golfers could “just gang up for a while” before Kelly Tilghman added that they could also “lynch him in a back alley.” The offensive cover caused the magazine’s editor to get fired immediately as Turnstile Publishing apologized for the offensive image. The New Yorker’s Racially Charged Jab at the Obamas In 2008, The New Yorker fell under serious scrutiny for featuring an offensive cartoon of the then-presidential candidate on its cover. President Barack Obama was shown dressed in Muslim garb with the American flag burning in the fireplace behind him. He is in the middle of fist-bumping his wife, Michelle Obama, who is sporting a large Afro despite the fact that she hasn’t publicly worn her hair in that fashion. Writer and activist Kenyon Farrow explained that the cover was more offensive slanderous than it was humorous satire. “But does this really provide a satire, or help to actually refresh fears of Black rebellion (in a post 9-11 anti-Islam context),” he wrote on his own website. “In my opinion, there are several issues here” Vanity Fair’s Young Hollywood Issues Vanity Fair’s Young Hollywood issue has become an annual tradition, but some movie lovers and TV fanatics were confused when it seemed like Black stars were rarely a part of the special edition cover. In 2012, only two of the 11 actresses on the trifold cover were women of color — Mission Impossible’s Paula Patton and Pariah’s Adepero Oduye. Even then, these women were featured on the folded part of the cover. Only four white actresses were represented on the front of the magazine’s cover. Unfortunately, the 2012 cover, with its two Black women, was one of the most diverse Young Hollywood spreads for Vanity Fair prior to the 2014 cover. Throughout the years, the cover typically failed to have any Black stars or only had one.

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