LeBron's cover on Vogue considered racially insenstive by some

[LynneSin]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-03-24-vogue-controversy_N.htm?csp=34

LeBron James' 'Vogue' cover called racially insensitive

NEW YORK (AP) — 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.

This is the picture you decide



I can see what they're complaining about but Lebron has a foot of extra height of Giselle so I guess she was trying to fit him in there. Honestly, it's not one of Annie Leibovitz more memorable photos

[Lautremont]

1. One sees what one wants to see, I suppose.

I just saw a couple of celebrities on a magazine cover.

[mainegreen]

2. Dude's playing B-Ball and is pumped. What's the problem?

People of any race might make that face when they're pumped.

[qb]

3. It looks to me like an exercise in contrast...

He's dribbling a basketball and yelling at a teammate? opponent? But he has his arm around Gisele, who looks like she's having a fabulous time out on a date.

King Kong? I think they're reading a little too much into it.

[MrsBrady]

4. if i had just seen this at the store

without seeing this comment first...

I just don't think that I would have ever thought anything about it.

[Mike Daniels]

5. Two people posed in positions that reflect their respective occupations

In reading the initial description of the photo I expected to see something that was drastically different than the actual picture.

Much ado about nothing in my opinion.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. All I see is a basketball player in a basketball playing pose with a woman next to him

:shrug:

I don't see anything racist at all.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. I'm curious if the people seeing racism are white.

This almost more of a response of the white-guilt "liberal" purists, perhaps fresh out of Sarah Lawrence, than anyone who's opinion should actually matter.

[IndianaJones]

11. Jemele Hill of ESPN has an article that is critical of the cover on ESPN.com nt.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. And who is Jemele Hill?

:shrug:

[IndianaJones]

15. African American ESPN columnist. nt.

[Fleshdancer]

8. To me it looks like a fun photo shoot

I imagine it can't get much better for a basketball player to be photographed doing what he loves while holding one of the most beautiful women in the world. I would be pumped too. :shrug:

In all honesty, I didn't see "King Kong" in that picture at all. He looks like the athlete that he is.

On a different note: I'm shocked to see a supermodel actually smile and look human on a magazine cover! Talk about a nice change.

[Westegg]

9. Lebron is a man of substance, and that comes through...

...And by "substance" I mean quality, integrity, dedication, maturity (at a young age,) etc. The guy's first rate in my book, a real winner, and I admire him. All this comes through in most photos I've seen of him. I've never seen him in so "stylized" a shot, and Annie Leibovitz no doubt worked hard to get this to look the way it looks. Too artificial for my taste, and I don't really know what she was going for here (I've seen Giselle look a lot better). Still, you'd have to work hard to see anything objectionable here. Too hard.

[LynneSin]

10. Like I said - it wasn't one of Annie's more memorable photos

She's done way better

[Westegg]

14. She's good at revealing character...

...with her staging, her props, and the way she interacts with her subjects that allows them to feel good about being open, and trusting her with what are sometimes seemingly outrageous situations for a shoot. Also, she has a fine and whimsical imagination that allows her to create these scenarios in the first place. I don't see much of any of that going on in this photo.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

12. Isn't that a normal look on a b-ball court?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. i think its far more of a powerful statement of what is valued in male vs female bodies

[pitohui]

17. oh for cryin' out loud

they just look like two nice looking people having fun, to my eye

[Blue_Tires]

18. i'm no photog

but for such a rare occasion, i think it would have been better if he at least wore a suit or something....

and as far a suggestive, nothing beats that Marcus Allen? TV Guide cover from the early 90s...TV Guide almost went out of business over that one, lol...Of course I've been searching but cannot find it.

[bertha katzenengel]

19. WHAT A LOAD OF BULLSHIT

My god!

[Yavin4]

20. It's Too Vanilla for Me

I was hoping for something more sexy.

[ghostsofgiants]

21. Some people really reach just to stir up a bit of controversy. It's kinda sad.

[KitchenWitch]

22. Would they be so worried about it if it were Eli Manning on the cover in the same type of pose?