A Fine Line: Controversial Magazine Covers

Front pages that spurred public outcry.

Rolling Stone, August 2013 - Rolling Stone magazine came under fire after featuring Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on the cover of its Aug. 3 2013 issue. Thousands of commenters bashed the publication on Facebook for appearing to glamourize Tsarnaev, who was accused of killing three people and wounding more than 200 others in the horrific attacks of April that year. But it's not the first time a magazine was taken to task for its front page. Keep reading for a look at more infamous covers. -- Britt Middleton and BET Staff (Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine, August 2013)

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Rolling Stone, August 2013 - Rolling Stone magazine came under fire after featuring Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on the cover of its Aug. 3 2013 issue. Thousands of commenters bashed the publication on Facebook for appearing to glamourize Tsarnaev, who was accused of killing three people and wounding more than 200 others in the horrific attacks of April that year. But it's not the first time a magazine was taken to task for its front page. Keep reading for a look at more infamous covers. -- Britt Middleton and BET Staff (Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine, August 2013)

Is That You, Kerry? - When Kerry Washington unveiled her InStyle cover of the mag's March issue last month, many believe the fashion rag went a little crazy on the Photoshop. Not only did InStyle appear to change Washington's perfectly-lovely nose and lips, it most notably seemed to lighten her skin color. The magazine quickly issued a statement in response to the social media backlash, attributing the snafu to lighting: "While we did not digitally lighten Kerry’s skin tone, our cover lighting has likely contributed to this concern. We understand that this has resulted in disappointment and hurt. We are listening, and the feedback has been valuable." (Photo: InStyle Magazine, March 2015)

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Wild Style - Lightened dark skin has been a long-running issue in media and this Kerry Washington cover was no different. The magazine released a statement apologized for using lighting techniques during the shoot (at least it wasn't photoshopped, they said) and the Scandal star thanked them for opening up the coversation (again).(Photo: InStyle Magazine, March 2015)

Our Time to Shine! - Time magazine just released its annual list of the world’s most influential people in the world. This year’s list boasts 8 amazing Black women—from entertainers to activists to athletes. Read who made the cut and what we can learn from each of them. By Kellee Terrell (Photo: Time Magazine, May 2014)

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Not Enough Cover - Being the world's Most Influential person is no slouch title, so why TIME would couple Beyoncé's 2014 honor with a photo of her in underwear was beyond belief to many.(Photo: Time Magazine, May 2014)

Hoodies Up! - After the tragic controversy that was Trayvon Martin's death, Ebony paid tribute to his family (seen above) with a series of covers that also featured Boris Kodjoe, Spike Lee, and Dwyane Wade wearing hoodies as he did the night he was killed. Conservative right-wingers –– especially the Tea Party –– went into an uproar.(Photo: Ebony Magazine, September 2013)

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Hoodies Up! - After the tragic controversy that was Trayvon Martin's death, Ebony paid tribute to his family (seen above) with a series of covers that also featured Boris Kodjoe, Spike Lee, and Dwyane Wade wearing hoodies as he did the night he was killed. Conservative right-wingers –– especially the Tea Party –– went into an uproar.(Photo: Ebony Magazine, September 2013)

Black and Proud - Oprah went big and bold for the cover of her 2013 hair issue, and was given the side-eye for using a faux fro to celebrate being au natural.(Photo: O Magazine, September 2013)

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Black and Proud - Oprah went big and bold for the cover of her 2013 hair issue, and was given the side-eye for using a faux fro to celebrate being au natural.(Photo: O Magazine, September 2013)

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Ball So Hard - Bloomberg Businessweek became the center of a pearl-clutcher's nightmare for this front page. Many had jokes, however, including, "It's only offensive if you have a small hedge fund."(Photo: Bloomberg Businessweek, July 2013)

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Ball So Hard - Bloomberg Businessweek became the center of a pearl-clutcher's nightmare for this front page. Many had jokes, however, including, "It's only offensive if you have a small hedge fund."(Photo: Bloomberg Businessweek, July 2013)

Money, Power, Respect? - Nene Leakes had to defend her place as Ebony's cover star of their 2012/2013 Money & Power issue. "African Americans were the ones that were the most negative;" she told The Daily Beast. We were upset, apparently, because reality TV is not real enough.(Photo: Ebony Magazine, December 2012/January 2013)

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Money, Power, Respect? - Nene Leakes had to defend her place as Ebony's cover star of their 2012/2013 Money & Power issue. "African Americans were the ones that were the most negative;" she told The Daily Beast. We were upset, apparently, because reality TV is not real enough.(Photo: Ebony Magazine, December 2012/January 2013)

Black Love - When Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou shared their relationship on the cover of Ebony, there were grumbles about the new mommy not being Black enough for a feature in the magazine.(Photo: Ebony Magazine, February 2010)

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Black Love - When Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou shared their relationship on the cover of Ebony, there were grumbles about the new mommy not being Black enough for a feature in the magazine.(Photo: Ebony Magazine, February 2010)

Oh, the Terror! - Althoiugh a liberal magazine, The New Yorker's attempt at illustrating what conservatives were calling a "terrorist fist jab" went too far for some.(Photo: The New Yorker Magazine, July 2008)

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Oh, the Terror! - Althoiugh a liberal magazine, The New Yorker's attempt at illustrating what conservatives were calling a "terrorist fist jab" went too far for some.(Photo: The New Yorker Magazine, July 2008)

The Passion - Before there was Yeezus, there was this, likely inspired by the success of Kanye West's 2004 hit "Jesus Walks."(Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine, February 2006)

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The Passion - Before there was Yeezus, there was this, likely inspired by the success of Kanye West's 2004 hit "Jesus Walks."(Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine, February 2006)

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Mama Knows - Breastfeeding advocate Jamie Lynne Grumet was photographed with her then 3-year-old son suckling her bosom and she was almost immediately spoofed on SNL and in a commercial for a mobile phone. Postings of the pic were blurred on TV, blocked on newsstands, and many commentors derided her choice.(Photo: TIME Magazine, May 2012)

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Mama Knows - Breastfeeding advocate Jamie Lynne Grumet was photographed with her then 3-year-old son suckling her bosom and she was almost immediately spoofed on SNL and in a commercial for a mobile phone. Postings of the pic were blurred on TV, blocked on newsstands, and many commentors derided her choice.(Photo: TIME Magazine, May 2012)

What's Beef? - Let Method Man tell it, this Vibe cover caused the deaths of two of hip hop's greatest, making a beef between to rappers into an all-out coast-to-coast war.(Photo: Vibe Magazine, October 1999)

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What's Beef? - Let Method Man tell it, this Vibe cover caused the deaths of two of hip hop's greatest, making a beef between to rappers into an all-out coast-to-coast war.(Photo: Vibe Magazine, October 1999)

About Time - Ellen Degeneres certainly earned her stripes to become one of today's most celebrated household names. When this cover came out, female homosexuality was simply shocking to the mainstream.(Photo: TIME Magazine, April 1997)

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About Time - Ellen Degeneres certainly earned her stripes to become one of today's most celebrated household names. When this cover came out, female homosexuality was simply shocking to the mainstream.(Photo: TIME Magazine, April 1997)

Darker Times - Skin lightening is not always the issue. TIME got into hot water in the court of public opinion for darkening O.J. Simpson's complexion on their cover, rendering him guilty... before he was acquitted of murder.(Photo: TIME Magazine, June 1994)

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Darker Times - Skin lightening is not always the issue. TIME got into hot water in the court of public opinion for darkening O.J. Simpson's complexion on their cover, rendering him guilty... before he was acquitted of murder.(Photo: TIME Magazine, June 1994)

Because of Love - Ms. Jackson featured a cropped version of this photo on the cover of her 1993 album janet. Once the full image was exposed on Rolling Stone, along with the headline "Sexual Healing," it was almost as shocking as later finding out that she was married (to the guy holding her breasts).(Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine, 1993)

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Because of Love - Ms. Jackson featured a cropped version of this photo on the cover of her 1993 album janet. Once the full image was exposed on Rolling Stone, along with the headline "Sexual Healing," it was almost as shocking as later finding out that she was married (to the guy holding her breasts).(Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine, 1993)

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Moore Surprises - What it means to be a woman and a mom is still being debated in the mainstream, and this naked image of Demi Moore being both was too much for some to handle.(Photo: Vanity Fair Magazine, August 1991)

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Moore Surprises - What it means to be a woman and a mom is still being debated in the mainstream, and this naked image of Demi Moore being both was too much for some to handle.(Photo: Vanity Fair Magazine, August 1991)

Good Mourning Vietnam - Not only was Muhammad Ali's statement that he'd rather go to prison than go to Vietnam and kill fellow Brown people during the war in the 60s controversial, but so was this Esquire cover depicting him as the martyr St. Sebastian.(Photo: Esquire Magazine, April 1968)

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Good Mourning Vietnam - Not only was Muhammad Ali's statement that he'd rather go to prison than go to Vietnam and kill fellow Brown people during the war in the 60s controversial, but so was this Esquire cover depicting him as the martyr St. Sebastian.(Photo: Esquire Magazine, April 1968)

Life + Times - When a TIME writer explored the popularity of science vs. religion in 1966 with this story, the stark, image-less cover attracted all kinds of responses. Some 3,500 letters (you know, those things we sent before email and tweets) were addressed to the publication's editors.(Photo: TIME Magazine, April 1966)

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Life + Times - When a TIME writer explored the popularity of science vs. religion in 1966 with this story, the stark, image-less cover attracted all kinds of responses. Some 3,500 letters (you know, those things we sent before email and tweets) were addressed to the publication's editors.(Photo: TIME Magazine, April 1966)