Is Vogue's April cover of Gisele and LeBron racist?

Vogue is catching a lot of heat over the magazine's historic April cover couple, LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen.

Apparently some folks think it's a great shot (by Annie Leibovitz) of a top basketball player doing what he does best -- dribbling a ball -- and a supermodel doing what she does best -- posing with a good-looking man. 

Others complain that the cover conveys blatant racial and sexual stereotypes by showing an angry black man with a helpless white woman.

Others ask why we are even noticing race at all.

What do you see? And what do you think?

Oh, and you might want to CLICK HERE to read the Vogue cover story on the couple, who are at their top of their respective games, which may -- or may not -- help explain the cover photo.

Photos: Vogue

Comments

[Renee]

That picture's rad!

[AJ]

I see a great photo and two great bodies. I didn't think of race until you mentioned it...

[blacknews]

If you put this picture next to the one of King Kong and Jane like I did on my site, yes Lebron does look like King Kong.
http://www.blacknews4us.com/

[Frank]

This cover is not a good picture, not due to race but it just doesn't look good. It's make it look as if labron is cray and gesille is not comfortable.

[Sabrina]

I was actually more offended by the first headline that excludes anyone above size 16. The picture itself looks as dumb as any other Vogue cover.

[Breeze Summers]

As an African American Male born in the 60's. I think this cover really shows the progression in our society. I cheer Vogue for making such a fashion statement, not a racist statement.

[Christina]

I'm just glad it's not like ALL THE OTHER Vogue covers: Skinny girl, popped hip, pretty dress. Skinny girl, popped hip, pretty dress.

[Doug]

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. LeBron's growling because he's competitive. He's certainly NOT angry. And Gisele's smiling.

[Blue in Mineapolis]

My wife immediately saw LeBron as King Kong. I just saw an angry, if well-known, basketball player, quite oversized too. We were both curious about the relationship that the photographer was trying to capture and convey? The two cover figures are clearly not a couple. He is angry, tense. She is a little lost, smiling and grimacing at the same time. We couldn't figure out the menaing of it all. On that score, it's curious, very, and a plain failure.

[Eliza]

I see a great athlete representing what he does on the court, and I see a famous supermodel posing for a cover. It's not a racist cover and let's not make more out of it than what it really is - 2 people posing for a cover. If you want to see racist stereotypes, turn on the TV.

[Amalone]

I have no idea where race comes in at. It's just a picture of two celebrities. Come on I'm black and saw this on Fox News channel.

[Jenny B.]

I'm personally offended that people find this photograph offensive. You can find something racist or sexist in just about anything if you concentrate hard enough. Would it be better if LeBron and Gisele were just standing there in drab clothing, showing no emotion at all like Grant Wood's painting, "American Gothic"? We should celebrate our differences, our emotions, our passions. We shouldn't hide them. I'm sure Gisele and LeBron didn't get to where they are today by being quiet and demure!

[Jose S.]

Look at the Vogue cover

look at this WWI propaganda poster

http://web.mala.bc.ca/davies/H482.WWI/poster.US.DestroyThisMadBrute.jpg

Look Similar?

[photoNeuron]

Prople don't actually see the picture; they see their
past experiences and
biases, which is natural.
anyway, the female seems tilted away, as if
trying to pull away. The
male doesn't seem angry - he just seems to be posing.
This photo just seems to be a standard choco/vanilla cover shot.
However, I do like the photoshoppy clinginess of the female's threads.

[Marilyn]

This is a wonderful photo. It's just great photograpy, artfully done! It's exciting to see such a cover. Those who see otherwise are left behind, somewhere back in the 1960s -seeing racism that just isn't there.

[Jeremy B]

WTF??????? I see good basketball player showing emotion, intensity maybe, and a supermodel laughing, most helpless women aren't laughing or happy looking. come on people you want prejudice and racism to stop then you need to stop pointing out stupid crap like this.

[Pat Geiger]

What's the matter with these idiots that are talking trash about this cover? It's a beautiful picture of two beautiful people. This is 2008 - not - 1950. If you don't like the picture go back to the Ozarks.

[MIa]

Imagine he was white - the cover would not be shot like this!

[Linda]

I like Lebron's photo - but the model doesn't look real - I think they should have picked someone else to be in the photo with Lebron

[Joe]

I'm not seeing it. He's tall, he has to crouch a little maybe, the photographer has him dribble a ball. He's a basketball player. It looks like he's being energetic and goofy, the way most of the black guys I know are. He looks cute, even if the picture's kind of angled in a peculiar way.
And she's laughing up a storm, which is something you'd expect since he's being fun and frisky.
Okay, it's not a cover-worthy composition, but go over to Flikr.com and look for something similar. Believe me, you'll find something very close, especially since tall men do tend to date short women.

[Q]

The truth of the matter is that people see what they want to see. If you are constantly looking through the magnifying glass for racism and bigotry, you are as closed minded as the people who convey racism and bigotry. Somethings are meant to be taken at face value!! This cover has the same credibility as a political statement from a country musician!!

[Nika]

As a well-established magazine, you should be aware of the racially loaded implications of this photo - that said, it's powerful, playful, and full of allusions to everything from racial stereotyping to Beauty & the Beast. Perhaps we need to be better consumers, not reactionaries.

[Patto]

A photojournalist certainly is aware of what her picture will remind people of. If not, then she's a lousy photographer, which may be the case here. More likely they just didn't choose the best shot.

It is NOT a great photograph. See how clumsy they look? They are close and touching but look how they are touching. His hand around her is awkward, her feet inside his are clearly unnatural. There's no "relationship" between them within the picture. He's not in a typically athletic stance. She's caught in the middle of what looks like trying to get away from him, but trying to not hurt his feelings by doing so. It's so posed, and so distracted by those annoying headlines, that it has mixed messages which aren't interesting at all.

[Mickey]

crazy just freakin nuts
someone is always finding something wrong with everything.
the picture is of LaBron doing what he loves posing in his basketball state of mind and Gisele posing playfully. No King Kong or Fay here except for the simpleminded idiot
Oh by the way I take offense.....haha
I am in the Ozarks
now I'm gonna make a big deal about the, "Go Back to the Ozarks" comment......NOT!!

[Nate]

This photo is no problem to those of us with education, maturity, and a certain degree of common sence. However the young, and uneducated, who believe the world owes "me", may not be able to see through it. The controversy will only spread to those who would not seek the magazine in the first place.