2023’s most controversial U.S. magazine covers featured Taylor Swift, Kim Petras and ‘Dr.’ Jill Biden

The most controversial U.S. magazine covers of 2023 triggered readers for a host of reasons.

Time magazine’s choice of pop music star Taylor Swift as its “Person of the Year” upset people who felt it was more of a marketing decision to sell magazines rather than one based on historical impact.
Some felt the title should have gone to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin or OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman. (See articles on Newsweek and Newsweek again.)
On a humorous note, the cover with Swift and her cat Benjamin Button started a meme with people imitating the picture with their own pets. (See articles by Inc., Today, the Tennessean and Yahoo.)

Transgender pop singer Kim Petras disgusted some readers when she appeared on the cover of the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. Conservative pundit Megyn Kelly blasted the cover, saying it would be a turnoff for teenage boys. (See article by the New York Post.)

In a similar vein, transgender model Geena Rocero sparked criticism when she was chosen as a cover subject for Glamour’s “Women of the Year” issue. (See Libs of TikTok post.)

Women’s Health magazine promoted the U.S. first lady as “Dr. Jill Biden” on its September cover. She is not a medical doctor but has a doctoral degree in education. The AP Stylebook, the style bible for journalists, says non-medical professionals should not be identified with the honorific “doctor.” (See X post by conservative commentator Mollie Hemingway.)

Time magazine was accused of alarmism for its June 12 cover story on artificial intelligence titled “The End of Humanity.” (See article by the Wrap.)

Celebrity magazine Star sparked a backlash for its Aug. 21 cover story that claimed Sandra Bullock and her long-term partner Bryan Randall had a “messy split.” The magazine hit newsstands just days after Randall died of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). (See articles by the Independent and News.com.au.)

Ebony magazine had an unfortunate cover subject in actor Jonathan Majors, who it called “Hollywood’s Most Wanted,” on its February cover.
At first, the cover photo shoot was mocked for making the macho star look effeminate. (See articles by SK Pop and the Root.)
But on March 25, Majors was arrested after a domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend. On Dec. 18, Majors was convicted of reckless assault in the third degree and a charge of harassment. After his arrest, more women came forward to accuse Majors of abuse.
Majors since has been dropped by his management firm and fired from at least two movie roles. He’s now Hollywood’s “least wanted” actor.

Finally, it wouldn’t be a list of the year’s most controversial magazine covers without one or two starring Kim Kardashian.
In September, Kardashian debuted a shocking buzz haircut and thin eyebrows while wearing a greasy undershirt on the cover of CR Fashion Book. (See articles by People, the Independent, Evie and CNN.)
In November, GQ magazine had Kardashian on the cover of its Men of the Year issue. The issue left a lot of guys scratching their heads. (See articles by the Daily Mail and Unilad.)