"Race row" over Vogue cover

Ramrod · 30-03-2008, 23:46

Quote:

The cover of the latest issue of Vogue magazine is always eagerly awaited as a guide to trends and styles. And when the fashion bible announced that a black man would grace that space for the first time in the magazine's 116-year history, there was already extra interest in its April issue.

But the picture of the basketball star, LeBron James, towering over the Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen, has made the kind of headlines that even Anna Wintour, the magazine's publicity-conscious British editor, was probably not expecting.

The cover Vogue featuring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen
The controversial Vogue cover

The image has provoked allegations of racial stereotyping, with some critics saying the image of James, his teeth bared in a mixture of a roar and a growl, is "ape-like"......Several critics have commented on parallels with the well-known image of King Kong, clutching the terrified form of actress Fay Wray - although on the Vogue cover Miss Bundchen is laughing, and is clearly not trapped by his hands.

Samir Husni, a University of Missouri academic who is America's leading magazine industry analyst, said that he believed the image was deliberately provocative, given the care devoted to producing the Vogue covers.

"When you have a cover that reminds people of King Kong and brings out those stereotypes - black man wanting white woman - it's not innocent," he said.

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I don't see anything wrong with this picture, does anyone else?

**Jefferson T** · 30-03-2008, 23:51

Nope, but I know a few people that would.

WHISTLED · 30-03-2008, 23:54

Nothing at all??

**David F** · 30-03-2008, 23:59

Its a basketball player they are all big. Im sure he was quite happy with the wages and if he was happy to have the picture taken and on the cover of the magazine who has the right to question that? This guy is likely to be quite pleased with himself getting on the front page of Vogue only for his achievement to be tainted by whining whinging wally's

slug · 31-03-2008, 00:01

Just a fun picture.

**Russ B** · 31-03-2008, 00:02

Whatever next

**David F** · 31-03-2008, 00:02

I to be honest didnt see king kong and fay wray I saw an obviously fit athlete and an obviously fit model. I think the problem lies with the idiots who did see kong they are the ones with a problem

cimt · 31-03-2008, 00:07

It's the people who complained who should be shocked, saying he looks like an ape! They can't complain about it...

bopdude · 31-03-2008, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

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I don't see anything wrong with this picture, does anyone else?

It's a bit hard to spot the 10 differences without the other picture mate

And no, nothing wrong with it to me

tweetypie/8 · 31-03-2008, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

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I don't see anything wrong with this picture, does anyone else?

not a thing wrong with it.

**Maggy J** · 31-03-2008, 00:53

I have to say that I think some folk have entirely too much time on their hands.

But tomorrow it will be recycled paper and forgotten.

frogstamper · 31-03-2008, 01:13

The image has provoked allegations of racial stereotyping, with some critics saying the image of James, his teeth bared in a mixture of a roar and a growl, is "ape-like"......Several critics have commented on parallels with the well-known image of King Kong, clutching the terrified form of actress Fay Wray - although on the Vogue cover Miss Bundchen is laughing, and is clearly not trapped by his hands.

This is ridiculous, so are they saying that a black guy cant be in a photo like this because it portrays him as an ape? Don't they[whoever they are] take into consideration that the guy who posed in the photo might, just might have a mind of his own. Once again its the PC police taking over, again.

**Russ B** · 31-03-2008, 01:16

Hang on, there's a female model on the cover too - maybe that objectifies women too? Hundreds of years of male oppression is still with us I see.

Osem · 31-03-2008, 09:01

More publicity for vacuous Vogue.

Ramrod · 31-03-2008, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by cimt

It's the people who complained who should be shocked, saying he looks like an ape! They can't complain about it...

Thats what I was thinking...the people who thought of king kong when they saw that pic are the ones who have a problem and should examine their own views imo....