EW's 'Twilight' cover backlash

What's the fastest way to rile up a whole community of fan girls? Depict their favorite vampire heartthrob in a less-than-flattering light.

The cover of the new issue of Entertainment Weekly features the leads of the upcoming "Twilight" movie, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, in full-on glam mode, and it's generating plenty of negative reaction from devoted readers of Stephenie Meyer’s ultra-successful young adult franchise who are less than thrilled with the shot.

The English actor plays Edward, a 90-something vamp who struggles to control his thirst for human blood. Stewart stars as Bella Swan, the quirky, independent-minded high school student who captures his heart. Catherine Hardwicke is directing the film, which is due out Dec. 12.

Though the online community has gone wild for almost anything having to do with the film, the new image is being criticized for a whole host of reasons -- but mostly for its depiction of Pattinson, whose unbuttoned shirt/chest-hair look doesn't exactly jibe with the descriptions of Edward that appear in the books.

Over at MTV.com, which features updates on the film every Tuesday as part of its "Twilight Tuesdays" series, comments such as the following were typical: "Edward looks like a ZOMBIE," a poster identified as "Horrified" said. "The stylists and photographer obviously had no idea who the characters are. Horrible! I thought the photo was a fake at first.  And wow, he looks like a hairy, powdered donut."

"Blake" agreed. "This cover is horrible. I mean Bella is supposed to be timid and ‘girl next door,’ and this photo does not convey any of that. And as for Edward, his lips are too red, and he is too white. I think that this is a crappy cover for such an amazing series, and it does not do the actors or the movie justice.”

In the "Twilight" forums on Amazon.com, "Alice" posted: "I agree. I mean, come on. If Steve Carell can wax his chest, why cant Rob?!?"

Not every response has been quite so vitriolic, of course. On Fanpop.com, kittykatkate wrote: "Honestly, it's a good picture, but it kinda reminds me of the covers of those romance novels you see at a grocery store or something."

The next book in the series, "Breaking Dawn," is set for release Aug. 2.

-- Gina McIntyre

Comments

[Shaun]

The cover was a really bad cover. Rob Pattinson is gorgeous but they managed to make him not so gorgeous. I'm not bothered by his hair. I don't think it's that bad. I am bothered with the make up and the hair on his head and the angle of this shot. The photographer and stylist really messed this up.. Rob deserves better. Twilight deserves better.

[Dottie]

I think whoever's in charge is going a little overboard in trying to make Edward look scary. Aren't vampires just supposed to look seductive? If they look scary, they wouldn't have much success in seducing their prey. Ha, I love the way the books make us take these silly things so seriously.

[Alice]

btw Edward is not 90 something he is 107. and i mean the picture is not how i thought it should look but i will still buy the magazine. they could have done a better job but what can you do about it?

[Kim]

Excuse me but edward is 107. his birthday was on June 20, 1901. that is one other way to enrage fan girls. jk. I'm not that mad but get the facts right.

[Sarah]

I think they both look fine - I'm going out to buy the magazine just because they are on the cover :P

[Angela]

People need to stop hating on this cover. Kristen cant look innocent. They want to sell the magazine. They need to have a sexy cover, and frankly its very sexy. Rob doesnt need to wax his chest, because no where in the book do it say that Edwards chest was hairless. I think Rob is extremly hot in this picture. I would totally do him :) and I personally cant wait for this mag. to come out so i can put the picture on my wall. The fangirls for Twilight need to take a chill pill can accept what they get. Because you know when the movie comes out they are all going to be there and fainting by the awesome sexiness that will be covering the screen.

[Katie]

This picture is so....odd. It doesn't even look like Kristen and Rob. Especially not Bella and Edward. Oh well, the inside photos make up for it. : )

[NCE]

aww how ruude.. :/
buut well i thiinkk kristen looks beautiifuul!
& robert looks akward..i agree with that..
buut WOOW! the insidee picturres are
beautiifuull the one in the raiinn iss HOOT!
lovved it<3333333333333333333333333!

[Sara( Yeah there's many of us)]

Hahahah! I love this LA Times article, because it was very truth full! This thus far is my least favorite picture! (I'm not saying its that bad- just umm, Bella looks to 'sexy' in the pictures, and Rob's hair is everywhere {not just his chest hair either- I don't like head hair also}) xD :)

[Sara]

If you know the Twilight community well enough to know that we go crazy over any Twilight-related release, than you should also know us well enough to know that we stick behind the people we support 100% percent.

Nobody is 'generating plenty of negative reaction', much less is there a 'backlash'.

We're all thrilled that Kristen and Rob got a cover of Entertainment Weekly, and we're happy for them.

If you're going to jump on the Twilight bandwagon to get a lot of hits towards your site, the best way to make sure that those are recurring hits probably isn't to offend your target audience.

[Kelsi]

alight when they say 90, they're reffering to how long hes been a vampire....not all together.
now to this picture........its horrible....
Robert's hands look dirty from the hair... ( werewolf-ish much?)
the look on his face is not seductive or anything like that its rather creepy
But i kind of like Bella . its a little too seductive, it makes her seem like the vampire not edward....

[Carrie]

I didn't think the cover was real the first time I saw it, I thought it was fanart. It's not really a bad picture, though. I don't think Kristen looks like herself, she's beautiful in this picture, but it reminds me more of Evan Rachel Wood. I think Rob looks hot and honestly, sometimes I'm ashamed to be a fan of the Twilight Saga because of how immature a lot of the other fans are. It makes me want to completely renounce my attatchment of the books and go read Libba Bray's series again. I would really love it if Twilight "fans" could grow up a little bit. No wonder we have so many haters.

[Michelle Harris]

I think it's a pretty good photo .DO NOT critacise the cast they rock .Go Spunk !Go Kristen!

[Faith]

Okay I thought this cover was a joke when I first saw it. I mean, why would Bella ever wear a DRESS? Seriously if she dreaded going to prom in a dress then why would she wear it any other time?? As for Rob/Edward, one word--DISGUSTING! He normally looks so hot, and now he looks horrible. The eyes are BLACK, I mean, c'mon is it that hard to put in the contacts he's been wearing for months for one photo? And his hair--ICK wayyy too red! Edward is NOT a redhead, he's supposed to have bronze-colored hair. The makeup on Rob looks horrible, his eyes are too dark and his lips just look weird. I'm not saying the pose isn't hot (for Rob and Kris) but for Edward and Bella...Yeah, they DEFINITELY don't act like that. Ever. This cover would make a LITTLE bit of sense if it was Rob/Kris...But since its supposed to portray Edward and Bella it's just horrible. And I am only buying it because it has to do with Twilight. And because Rob's there. He looks so much better in the movie and in the other shoots that they did. Just this is seriously shameful for a magazine like this to put on the COVER. Seriously guys, do a little research before you shoot something like this for your COVER. Idiots.

[Kay]

The photo is supposed to be of Kristen and Rob...not Bella and Edward. The shoot was for the actors not the characters. Sure they tied in the book/movie with the apple thing but I don't believe their goal was to make it look like the characters per say.

I mean, c'mon...they couldn't turn anyone into Edward Cullen even if they tried. He's just to perfect and as we all know, perfection is something you here about in fictional stories. (Like Twilight!)

I think the shot is beautiful and so what if Rob has a little chest hair?
He is a grown man, they are bound to have hair there. He does look a little pale but it doesn't take anything away.
I'm a huge Twilight fan and I'm ok with the cover...not absolutely thrilled, but I'm not going to bash someone's art direction because of it.
If you think the picture could've been better, then go photoshop it and prove it.

[KiKi]

O.M.G. That was funny. I agree the cover is not the best. I was thinking it would be something more...real. I mean Rob look ugly and he is hott and Kristen doesn't look like Bella. She is too pretty. I don't know. It is okay...i guess.

Rob needs to shave his chest..or whatever guys do to there chest :D

[Sara]

Hey, um, you switched up my post with someone else's.

I actually wrote this-

'If you know the Twilight community well enough to know that we go crazy over any Twilight-related release, than you should also know us well enough to know that we stick behind the people we support 100% percent.

Nobody is 'generating plenty of negative reaction', much less is there a 'backlash'.

We're all thrilled that Kristen and Rob got a cover of Entertainment Weekly, and we're happy for them.

If you're going to jump on the Twilight bandwagon to get a lot of hits towards your site, the best way to make sure that those are recurring hits probably isn't to offend your target audience.'

But you MY post under another commenter named Sara, and put my URL with this post-

'alight when they say 90, they're reffering to how long hes been a vampire....not all together.
now to this picture........its horrible....
Robert's hands look dirty from the hair... ( werewolf-ish much?)
the look on his face is not seductive or anything like that its rather creepy
But i kind of like Bella . its a little too seductive, it makes her seem like the vampire not edward....'

Is there anyway to switch that back?
I'd like credit for what I actually wrote.

[Michelle]

He's beautiful and they ruined him in that picture. That stylist should be fired. :/ They did no research! Edward looks nothing like that. Did they even check any of the movie stills or check with Summit Entertainment or the director?? I'm at a loss for what they were thinking.

A fan photoshopped him with his normal Edward hair and the topaz eyes... 1000% better! It's his hair in this. His face is perfect and gorgeous as always. And SHE looks nothing like Bella there. Bella is not a glam girl. :/

[Hollie]

You all are MORONS!

THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPICT EDWARD AND BELLA!
ITS TWO ACTORS PROMOTING THEIR MOVIE!
THEY WANT TO CATCH YOUR EYE!

A SHY, TIMID, PLAIN GIRL AND A BOY WITH A BUTTONED UP SHIRT WILL NOT CATCH ANYONES EYE!

[Jen]

http://community.livejournal.com/lion_lamb/1375798.html#cutid1

[Symone]

im not going to lie, i wasnt big on the cover at first, but after awhile it grew on me.and i have to admitt the picture just doesnt do robert justice. i just dont feel its his best picture. i think kristen looks amazing.
overall i think the cover is Awesome!

[Lori]

ROBERT'S CHEST IS FINE! IT'S THE HAIR. He's way too beautiful for this Harleqiun crap.

[Cece]

And frankly, my mom probably won't let me buy this cover cause of this "seductive, cheesy romance novel cover" lol. She'd be paranoid about Twilight and maybe ban it :(

THINK ABOUT THE TEENS/KIDS WHO HAVE VERY CONSERVATIVE PARENTS Entertainment Weekly!

[Natasha]

BTW, Los Angeles Times, there is not a "backlash" just mixed reactions.
I love it. I love RPattz & KStew.
As someone else has said before me, I'm sometimes very ashamed to be Twilighter. Grow up y'all. If you don't like the cover (I do though!) look at the photos inside! GORGEOUS!

[Cece]

And frankly, my mom probably won't let me buy this cover cause of this "seductive, cheesy romance novel cover" lol. She'd be paranoid about Twilight and maybe ban it :(

THINK ABOUT THE TEENS/KIDS WHO HAVE VERY CONSERVATIVE PARENTS Entertainment Weekly!

[Cass]

I'm of the opinion that the cover definitely did an injustice to both the actors and the characters. First off, Robert Pattinson is a very attractive young man and I think he makes a fitting Edward, but the way he was done up for this shoot is very unflattering. He's too pale, his lips are too red, his fingers are dirty (what's up with that) and his hair looks like a bad wig. Then you've got Kristen who looks beautiful, but unfortunately doesn't look anything like the character of Bella. It seems they were going for a romanticized, maybe "old world" vampire type of look but for those that love the characters it's almost like defacing them and for those that don't know of them yet - well...I hardly find the picture attractive enough to generate interest beyond "what is this freak show?"

[Anjie]

"The English actor plays Edward, a 90-something vamp who struggles to control his thirst for human blood."

107, 107. ;]

[Symone]

im not going to lie, i wasnt big on the cover at first, but after awhile it grew on me. the picture just doesnt do Robert justice. i love Robert as Edward, and i know he is going to do an amazing job as Edward. I just dont feel its his best picture. I think Kristen looks AMAZING!

overall the cover is AWESOME!

[Stephanie Gail]

i think they were aiming for the
romace novel dramaticness.
you know?
all the fabio- wind whipping
through his hair crap.
but i have no problem with it.
i think kristen looks adorable,
and robert a sext mother effer.

[Maggie]

I think it's hot.
*shrug*

Way to go Robert Pattinson.

[Symone]

im not going to lie, i wasnt big on the cover at first, but after awhile it grew on me. the picture just doesnt do Robert justice. i love Robert as Edward, and i know he is going to do an amazing job as Edward. I just dont feel its his best picture. I think Kristen looks AMAZING!

overall the cover is AWESOME!

[Alyssa]

WOW.

Yes, the cover was bad, but for Robert to be compared to Steven Carrel on waxing his chest hair is just unbelievable.

Whoever that girl is in real life, I think you are a shame. You remind me of that girl who asked Ashley (who plays Alice) why she wouldn't cut her hair if Natalie Portman can shave her head. Why would you put out unreasonable comparisons? A lot of men have chest hair, and that is not a lot comparative to most men. And to compare 2 different roles is just unbelievable, Steven Carrel did it for comical purposes. STEVE DID NOT WAX HIS CHEST FOR THE ROLE IN THE MOVIE, HE WAXED HIS CHEST WHILE FILMING A COMICAL SCENE! If you've heard, it was his idea to do so.

I HIGHLY DOUBT THEY WAX THEIR CHEST IN THE 1900s.

I honestly do not think this is the actors' fault, but Entertainment Weekly. A bad cover with amazing photos inside. I think EW failed with the concept, are the actors suppose to pose as themselves or as the actors? It seems like they were going to more as the actors with some of their characters. They don't look entirely like themselves, yet they don't look entirely like their characters (case in point, Rob, Kristen, and Cam).

[Natasha]

BTW, Los Angeles Times, there is not a "backlash" just mixed reactions.
I love it. I love RPattz & KStew.
As someone else has said before me, I'm sometimes very ashamed to be Twilighter. Grow up y'all. If you don't like the cover (I do though!) look at the photos inside! GORGEOUS!

[Symone]

im not going to lie, i wasnt big on the cover at first, but after awhile it grew on me. the picture just doesnt do Robert justice. i love Robert as Edward, and i know he is going to do an amazing job as Edward. I just dont feel its his best picture. I think Kristen looks AMAZING!

overall the cover is AWESOME!

[Megan]

I remember my first reaction to seeing this cover. I swore it was fake because it looked so... un-Twilight. But it really isn't that bad, and what can we do about it anyway? Twilight is something that's getting a ton of publicity lately, and everyone is trying to get their hands on it so they can sell and make profit off of it, and with this cover, they're reaching out to a certain kind of crowd, and that's not necessarily a bad thing (not that I think it does the story of Edward and Bella much justice). However, this isn't just an image of Edward and Bella, but also Robert and Kristen. Were the Twilight fans to see this as simply Rob and Kris, they wouldn't be so upset (except for those who are still gawking at Rob's hair). And even to those who are still upset, it's NOT a big deal. It's one cover on a magazine, and that shouldn't affect your love for Twilight. (And even if it did, there are some great pics in the article to make up for the cover!)

[Sidney]

This manip that someone did of the cover is better, I think.
Less chest hair and more Edward-ish hair. :D

http://i36.tinypic.com/2mozeir.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/2mozeir.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/2mozeir.jpg
http://i36.tinypic.com/2mozeir.jpg

[Meagan]

Okay first thing, shame on all of the Twilighters who are criticizing the cover instead of being ecstatic that Twilight has the COVER of a national magazine 5 months before it comes out. Second, EW is known for having really glammed up covers that are over the top. If the picture was just of Kristen and Rob in their wardrobe, the cover wouldn't grab the attention of very many people. Third, if Rob is supposed to be Edward on the cover, why would his chest be waxed? Chest wax did not exist in the early 1900s and since Edward has undergone puberty, I'm going to guess that he had chest hair. Really the only thing that kinda irked me a smidgen was Rob's hair...that could have been fixed a little bit, but other than that I think the cover is amazing and will draw in people from outside the Twilight community!

[Michelle]

Um, "Faith", then why does the corner of the magazine say "Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart as Edward and Bella." :/ There went your whole argument, darlin'.

[ella lee]

the cover is HORRIBLE! i agree with all the stuff about him looking like a zombie and bella being too.....but it wasn't there fault it was the stylists, either way rob and kris are still two hot actors

NOW the pictures in the issue are FANTASTIC!!!
the one of rob carrying her in the rain is so hot and romantic i can't say enough about them!

[Kendra Dumbledore]

I'm only upset by the fact that
A) Robert as Edward is suppose to have GOLDEN eyes
B) Kristen as Bella has BROWN.
C) THATS NOT EDWARDS HAIR DAMNIT XD KEEP IT LIKE THE MOVIE UGH!
D) Kristen is too sexy Bella is timid and shy.
E) Too much makeup on Kristen
F) Robert has too much makeup also, Vampires are not that pale.

KThnxBye.
I love the cover anyways though XD
Hahaha I know I hate it and love it, its a very conflicting feeling.

[jordy]

holy crap dude... eww...
EDWARD HAS CHEST HAIR! *gags* thats nasty... edward cant have chest hair its just... dirty and gross... and his hands are dirty and it looks like edwards a rapist who drugged bella and got her in some kinky red dress. its too out of character for me. if anything edward remindes me more of jasper or emmet in this picture.

[Kayla]

I like the pose, and I'm okay with Kristen. The main problem with this cover is Rob - whoever did his hair / makeup / wardrobe needs a kick in the shins. Not only is it out of character for Edward, it just looks bad, plain and simple.

[blearyeyedmesgirl]

As if it weren't bad enough that people are criticizing this awesome, handsome actor for something that the Entertainment Weekly did to him...but now you have to write an article re-posting the wretched things they are saying?! Was that really necessary? How much does he have to withstand from his so-called 'fans?'

[Twilighter Fanpire Steph]

I'm still confused.. is this picture supposed to be " Edward and Bella", Robert and Kristen, or is it supposed to symbolize something like the stereotypical vampire and damzel in distress or something??

I don't thin the picture is THAT bad, it's eye catching :D!!! I do agree that Rob does look a little weird but it's still a nice picture and aren't magazines like supposed to over do everything??

Gosh,some people are taking this pic too seriously and just plain bashing on the actors. SUCK IT UP!!!!!!

By the way, he's 107 years old!!! THAT is also another way "rile up a whole community of fan girls" haha

[Christina]

This is not my favorite at all. Rob looks absoutly ugly. It looks like a zombie and he is way too white to even be a vampire! This makeup artist must be fired at once he/she clearly has not read Twilight and does not understand that Edward is supposed to look DAMN SEXY! Rob is sexy of course, I have seen other picture's of him. But this one is...eww. And Bella is supposed to be a shy, embarresed girl. She doesn't even usethat much makeup! Stephanie should of be on the set of this photoshoot, heck she should of done the makeup!

The Twilight Saga are still and will always be the best books ever!

[hp-lili]

90-something??? edward is 107 years old! anywho, i hope edward doesn't have chest hair in the meadow scene, but honestly, i think they are depicting the ACTORS, not the characters, guys.

[Melanie]

The cover is completely awesome simply because it has Robert and Kristen on it. I understand at a photo shoot there ARE going to be pictures that are less attractive than others...but I agree that they could have picked a better picture to put on their cover.

[Chelsie]

Okay this is ridiculous. You can't make an actor look exactly like your favorite book character and appease everybody. Robert looks great and Kristen looks fantastic. My image of Edward is Robert Pattinson on the dot. Everyone has a right to their opinion but really just leave them alone. Edward is SUPPOSED to be pale. its written in the book. Sorry that they took a different take on the two maybe made it a little edgy. Oops. I personally like it.

[Allie]

Well, it wasnt all THAT bad. Yes, they both look a little out of character, but what else was everyone expecting!?!? i mean look at Harry Potter: almost six bloody movie and name ONE where Dan has GREEN EYES all the way through the film! >.>; it's tragic, really it is, but what else was everyone expecting? At least Kristen looks quite good and most people need to be reminded: this IS for a magazine cover and i'm am somehow doubting it's actually possible to make either of those two actors actually look ugly; unflattering, yes, but not ugly!

As actors it cannot be expected of them to change at every whim and call of the fanbase just to be flattering that isnt very realistic or fair to them as people. They were and still are people of their our before they put on costumes to become Edward and Bella. So everyone: take a deep breath and CHILL! Yea, i get it you might not like them, but learn to DEAL WITH IT!

[michelle]

I agree..nowhere does it say that he is hairless...why should Rob Pattinson wax his chest?
He looks very natural and this picture is soo sexy.
and yeah...90 year old vamp?! hahahaha. And the description of Bella is hilarious too. Like she's definitely unique but I wouldn't call her "quirky".