The most controversial foreign magazine covers of 2020

In 2020, the most controversial magazine covers outside of the U.S. offended sensitive readers with depictions of race, cultural stereotypes and treatment of the mentally ill.
What follows is a summary of the foreign magazine covers that sparked the most criticism this year.

Vogue Portugal pulled one of the covers for its July issue after it caused an outcry online.
The cover showed a naked woman sitting in a psychiatric hospital bathtub while two caregivers stand by, one of them pouring water over her head. Critics said it perpetuated an inaccurate and negative stereotype of psychiatric care. Others said it glamorized mental illness.
(See articles by CNN, BBC and Yahoo.)

French right-wing magazine Valeurs Actuelles was criticized across the political spectrum in France for depicting a black socialist member of parliament, Danièle Obono, as a slave. The illustration on the cover of the August issue showed her with an iron collar around her neck.
(See articles by BBC, the Guardian, New York Times and CNN.)

A Brussels-based magazine caused controversy in September with its cover showing famous Belgians with their skin darkened to look black. The publication, Le Vif, was trying to condemn the lack of people of African descent in positions of power. Instead, it sparked accusations of promoting “blackface.”
(See article by Euronews.)

Czech magazine Reflex caused a stir with a cover in June. It showed WWII Nazi Germany leader Adolf Hitler with darkened skin and an afro and wearing a golden chain necklace. The picture was accompanied by the slogan “Black Lives Matter.”
(See article by Spunik.)

Dutch weekly Elsevier Weekblad branded Spaniards and Italians as “lazy” on its May 30 cover. The cover illustration depicted two blonde-haired Dutch people in suits at work juxtaposed with man with a mustache drinking wine and a woman in a bikini relaxing. The magazine was critical of northern Europe having to finance southern Europe.
(See article by the Majorca Daily Bulletin.)

A Turkish government-aligned news magazine triggered a debate in Turkey with its cover story that suggested the time has come for the redeclaration of the Islamic caliphate in the country. It featured a red caliphate flag from the Ottoman Empire on the cover. The magazine, Gercek Hayat, is owned by the pro-government Yeni Safak media group.
(See article by Middle East Eye.)

No review of controversial international magazine covers would be complete without at least one from French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Turkey condemned the Oct. 28 issue of the magazine for its cover depiction of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The cover illustration depicted Erdogan in his underwear holding a drink and lifting the skirt of a woman wearing an Islamic dress to ogle her bare bottom.
(See articles by New York Post, the Associated Press and DPA International.)

The Economist stirred up controversy with a Jan. 25 cover story on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi titled “Intolerant India.”
(See articles by Newslaundry, ScoopWhoop and The Nation.)

Spanish gossip magazine Caras was slammed for describing the 16-year-old heir to the Dutch throne as “plus size” on its July 22 cover. Princess Amalia was pictured on the cover with her mother, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. Social media users and media outlets said the use of the term was “dangerous.” “disrespectful” and “shameful.”
(See articles by the Daily Mail, Evening Standard and Independent.)

Finally, the cover of the April magazine for the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan drew criticism for turning the logo of the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics into a coronavirus.
(See articles by WNEP and Creative Bloq.)