Nicole Kidman, Kim Kardashian top 2022’s most controversial U.S. magazine covers

Congratulations are in order for actress Nicole Kidman for appearing on two of the most talked-about magazine covers in the U.S. in 2022.
This year, she tied reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who also had two controversial magazine covers. Kardashian is no stranger to “breaking the internet” with her photo shoots.
What follows are the most controversial U.S. magazine covers of 2022.

Much digital ink was spilled this year discussing Nicole Kidman’s cover photo on Vanity Fair’s Hollywood Issue in February. The 54-year-old actress wore an infamously short Miu Miu skirt and matching top, displaying her toned torso.
Critics complained that the outfit was age inappropriate. Others opined that her body must have been Photoshopped. Some insisted that she was fitness-shaming middle-aged women.
(See articles by Yahoo, Fox News, Page Six, Newsweek, and the Independent.)

Kidman courted controversy again with her cover photo for Perfect magazine in August. In the cover shot, she showed off her ripped biceps and tight abs. Again, some people accused the magazine of Photoshop editing.
Also, several opinion writers, including Prof. Joyce Harper, said the magazine was presenting unrealistic fitness standards for older women, including those in menopause.
(See article by the Daily Mail.)

Actress Jennifer Aniston faced similar criticisms for her cover photo on the December issue of Allure. The 53-year-old wore a revealing Chanel “nipplekini,” previously worn by Kim Kardashian. British pundit Piers Morgan slammed the cover as “tacky.”
(See articles by Newsweek, Glamour, Maxim and Slate.)

Speaking of Kim Kardashian, she was accused of “blackfishing” with her March cover of Vogue magazine. Blackfishing means appropriating black American culture through make-up, fashion, styling and poses. (See article by the Sydney Morning Herald.)

Kardashian again courted controversy with her butt-baring cover on the September issue of Interview magazine. (See articles by the New York Post, Fox News, the Daily Mail, Piers Morgan, the Daily Telegraph and Koimoi.com.)

Self Magazine was accused of promoting obesity as the “future of fitness” with its January cover story. (See article by the Federalist.)

Controversial Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson sparked a firestorm of criticism after commenting on plus-size model Yumi Nu on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. He tweeted, “Sorry. Not beautiful.” (See articles by the Daily Mail, Mediaite, Maxim and Forbes.)

People magazine was accused of fat-shaming with its May 30 cover story on actress Rebel Wilson. (See article by New York Post.)

GQ magazine was roasted for its bizarre cover photo on the August issue that made actor Brad Pitt look like a wax figure or a corpse. (See articles by Fox News, the Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and the U.S. Sun.)

Speaking of people that look like corpses, New York Magazine did a cover story in June on 89-year-old U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. The Daily Caller said she looked like the living dead in the cover photo.

New York Magazine also got people talking with its Dec. 19 cover illustration and story on “nepo-babies” and nepotism in Hollywood. (See articles by the Daily Mail, BuzzFeed, the Independent, New York Post, and Deadline.)