2022’s most controversial foreign magazine covers

The most controversial foreign magazine covers of 2022 hit such hot button topics as race and sexism.

Critics accused British Vogue of “fetishizing” black women with its February 2022 cover. Some people called the cover offensive for its dark lighting, makeup, and styling of the nine female African models. (See articles by the Daily Mail and CNN.)

Vanitha Magazine in India was roundly criticized last January for a cover story featuring actor Dileep, who is accused in a kidnapping and sexual assault case involving a female actor. (See articles by The Quint, the News Minute and International Business Times.)

Critics called an i-D magazine cover photo of 16-year-old Cruz Beckham “inappropriate.” The magazine’s spring issue showed the youngest son of David and Victoria Beckham shirtless, in his underwear and with his pants pulled down. (See articles by Yahoo, Daily Record, the Mail, and Irish Mirror.)

CR Fashion Book China incensed fans of legendary film actress Marilyn Monroe in June by digitally recreating her as a modern-day supermodel. The magazine had Monroe dressing in the latest looks from fashion houses such as Miu Miu, Fendi, Balmain and Balenciaga. Fans called it an “exploitative” stunt. (See article by the Daily Mail.)

French movie magazine Le Film Français issued an apology for its Sept. 30 issue that featured seven male filmmakers on the cover but no women. (See article by Deadline.)

Israeli right-wing magazine Channel 14 stirred outrage from the LGBTQ+ community for a May issue. The cover featured an illustration depicting worshipers surrounding a rainbow “golden calf” with the title “LGBT-stan: how radical left-wing organizations control the State of Israel with the LGBT religion.” (See article by the Jerusalem Post.)