Outraged Readers Cancelling SI Subscriptions
 

This sister's blog went out of the way to superbly describe the issue at hand. So I just copied and pasted what she wrote. I take NO credit here:
http://www.sandrarose.com/kwest_03sm.jpg


Outraged Sports Illustrated readers are flooding the SI offices with angry phone calls and emails demanding subscription cancellations. The furor erupted after Sports Illustrated's celebrated annual "Swimsuit Issue" hit the stands with Beyonce on the cover and an inside shot of a smug Kanye West gripping a models derriere.

Angry comments have been posted on this site as well as other blogs and message boards. "Is this the Swimsuit Issue or the Ghetto issue?" read one post. A source inside the SI mail room emailed me to say longtime subscribers are angry. "The calls are nonstop," she wrote. "Some of these guys have been subscribing to Sports Illustrated for years just so they can get the Swimsuit Issue before it hits the stands. This is like blasphemy to most of them who don't know who Beyonce or Kanye are."

A local newspaper reporter who asked not to be identified said, "So many women grew up identifying with the models in the Swimsuit Issue. They don't see themselves in Beyonce. SI has made a mockery of their core demographic with this issue."

So far, SI hasn't commented publicly on the complaints. But insiders say SI is discreetly emailing members of the mainstream media emphasizing the point that the Swimsuit Issue is a "Music Issue". But critics are asking how can it be both? "They should make up their minds," wrote one angry poster on a sports-related board. "Either it's the Swimsuit Issue or the Rap Issue. SI can cancel my subscription!"

By Sandra Rose

^^^ I kind of figured that this would happen. I was actually very surprised they put Kanye and that model in the pics together.

White people are just mad that a black dude is gripping some white model's butt. If it were Nick Lachey doing the butt fondling then nobody would be offended. Why isn't it the "ghetto issue" when black athletes (many from the ghetto) are gracing the covers of the magazine monthly? Haters.

How intelligent.

[QUOTE=MzDoctaKay;1400348]This sister's blog went out of the way to superbly describe the issue at hand. So I just copied and pasted what she wrote. I take NO credit here:
http://www.sandrarose.com/kwest_03sm.jpg



I wonder if her back hurt after she tried to push it out to make herself look like she had a butt?

[QUOTE=pinkies up;1400437]Well, if she had "a butt" she probably wouldn't have that modeling job, so I don't think she's too jealous.

LOL

http://elouai.com/images/yahoo/33.gif:confused: http://elouai.com/images/yahoo/33.gif:confused:

Saying it is also a music issue IS a cop out. And very honestly I don't like the Kanye pic either. Do better, SI.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKEEphistAKAte (Post 1400400) White people are just mad that a black dude is gripping some white model's butt. If it were Nick Lachey doing the butt fondling then nobody would be offended. Why isn't it the "ghetto issue" when black athletes (many from the ghetto) are gracing the covers of the magazine monthly? Haters.

I can always count on my Soror-twin! :D ;)

Quote:

This is like blasphemy to most of them who don't know who Beyonce or Kanye are."

Where have hey been for the past two to five years?

Quote:

A local newspaper reporter who asked not to be identified said, "So many women grew up identifying with the models in the Swimsuit Issue. They don't see themselves in Beyonce. SI has made a mockery of their core demographic with this issue."

Apparently, this is saying that SI is NOT for "us." I don't know about everyone else, nor can speak for everyone, but I have NEVER identified with anyone in SI. Not even "slim" Tyra when she was on the cover. Maybe I could identify with the fact that she was black... *shrug* So, in other words, forget trying to get new fans. They aren't trying to appeal to any other demographic.

Quote:

So far, SI hasn't commented publicly on the complaints. But insiders say SI is discreetly emailing members of the mainstream media emphasizing the point that the Swimsuit Issue is a "Music Issue". But critics are asking how can it be both? "They should make up their minds," wrote one angry poster on a sports-related board. "Either it's the Swimsuit Issue or the Rap Issue. SI can cancel my subscription!"

If ONE issue has folks up in arms, let them kick rocks!

How insightful. :rolleyes:

What is funny that no one boycots King, or Maxim or any other mag with offensive images of women. what makes this different?

Me neither.

Neither do I.

Does anyone else find it rather odd and/or interesting that the only place this matter has been brought up is here with the OP's unlinked, copied report?

I have neither heard or seen anything about this anywhere else.

Have to start to wonder if this is the start of another UL.:confused:

This is different because a BLACK man is gripping a WHITE woman's butt with a "smug" look on his face.

[QUOTE=shinerbock;1400443]Ummm, I don't think I said anything about jealousy. Black women have absolutely NOTHING to be jelous of here;)

That would offend a lot of people even if it were a white guy. The fact that its Kanye makes it worse. Not because he's black, but rather because he's a moron.

1. SI readers are b!tching over 2 pages of an entire issue? i mean, every faithful magazine reader has one cover they arent a fan of... if it's enough to cancel your subscription, then youre not really a faithful subscriber now are you?

2. i think the Kanye ad is just added on as more fuel to the fire. is Kanye in the ad as an endorser or is he another featured article where that is one of his spread shots? if the latter, than maybe it is a little inappropriate... but if it's an ad, well there are LOTS of ads like that.

3. its the SWIMSUIT issue, so lots of T&A will be shown, at least lots of flesh. i guess the reaction shows that its readers still operate on a "look dont touch" type of vibe?

4. if anything, i see beyonce and kanye being featured as them being currently hot in pop culture (i think Kanye is supposed to be coming out with a new album, and well, Bey is still riding her 15 minutes of fame). now for people to twist it as "OMG ONE TOO MANY BLACK FACES IN OUR BELOVED MAGAZINE" is a little ridiculous.

5.if anything, the only buzz i heard about this was the comparison of Bey vs. Tyra (something about them wearing the same bathing suit?)

Cosign. Since it is a sports magazine, would they have felt better if D-Wade's hands was on the model's butt instead of Ye? They still would have complained. They just want to see the models. And they are mad because SI decided to do something different than the normal.

The only complaint that I have of the pic is that it is not my butt that Ye is grabbing. :D :p

A whole lot of ado about nothing. SI will get more subscriptions because of this--folx will want to see what the next controversy will be. I say ignore it and let it die. And boo to Kanye and Beyonce for posing, especially Kanye. Don't you know that "SI doesn't care about Black folx," except as a marketing tool?

I've looked around and can't find this type of story anywhere else. However, sometimes it does take this kind of stuff a couple days for Drudge to break it. Or it could be false.

I think Jon and shinerbock are right . . I couldn't really find anything on this either.

I did locate the original blog and from the way it is written, this is all a UL in the making. IMHO of course.

Exactly, especially the bolded.

Co-sign. I would be just as unhappy of Kanye were holding Beyonce's butt or any other black woman, especially a mixed woman considering his past comments. The photo is just in bad taste period.

Everyone is not going to like every single page of a magazine issue, but I'm not digging the ignorant undertones of these supposed e-mails and complaints. But how suprised can you really be when you leave in these United States and know the history and current culture? Not too much.

Ditto. I haven't seen the whole issue, but I liked Beyonce's cover shot. I can't identify with her, but that's okay, I'm not trying to! She looks great, good for her. I HATE the Kanye shot, but hers, I'm not mad at. From what I know, her bikini is from her Dereon line, so Tyra couldn't have been wearing the same one, it hadn't been designed back then. So the conflict lies.....WHERE? Just let black people be...and lessus not quarrel anymo'...

i think this is an "article" from blogger sandra rose.

http://www.sandrarosenews.blogspot.com/

I forgot about this. GRRRRRR @ Kanye :mad:

what did he say? tld221 wants to know!

Kanye's dumb ass said that if it weren't for MUTTS, (reference to biracial women) there wouldn't be any girls in the videos. Lawd, I'm getting mad again.

Don't get mad. He is all about shock value. His antics began with "George Bush doesn't care about black people," continued with his childish pouting on award shows, and now here we are.

I'm waiting for people to tell his lame ass to play the background.

You're right. I guess if he doesn't shock, he doesn't eat. :cool:

Exactly.:)

It is.

[quote=pinkies up;1400437]ROTFLMBO!!!!!!!!

Exactly. Def again except it said I had to spread it around before I could give it to you again. Gonna go try now. :D

And it seems to be no where else at all.....:rolleyes: ;) :confused: :)

I've noticed that too.....

What do yall think this means? That it isn't getting the attention it should deserve or that its not really a legitimate story?

Good question. I'm not sure what Jon meant, but I don't believe it's getting the attention it deserves. I believe you were the respondent in this thread who stated that some times it takes others a while before they jump on a story. I can't imagine why she'd blog about this if it was false......I'm going to try contacting her.....I'm anxious to know the credibility of her sources.