Since the new Sports Illustrated (SI) cover featuring 24-year-old model Hannah Davis has been released, the publication came under fire over the magazine's most controversial front page ever. Social media lit up with negative comments as many were outraged with Davis' dangerously low-slung bikini bottom.
New Sports Illustrated cover girl Hannah Davis was also criticized after she was photographed seductively tugging her bikini bottom too low. The cover photo was taken by Ben Watts at Tennessee's picturesque Blackberry Farm, which marked Davis' third magazine appearance, as initially reported.
The new Sports Illustrated cover with Davis hit the newsstands Monday, Feb. 9. Though the Swimsuit edition of the magazine has nothing to do with actual sports, it is still considered as its biggest issue of the year, Variety revealed.
Even though Sports Illustrated has been commended for featuring plus-size models on their 2015 swimsuit issue, Business Insider reported the latest edition still sparked social media uproar.
"#SportsIllustrated cover outrageous..inappropriate..pornographic...unnecessary...nasty. Is there any wonder women are seen as sex objects?" one user tweeted. While another added, "Ok, um, is it just me or is this a bit too much? This is #SportsIllustrated not Playboy. Pretty girl, but poor taste."
"The new sports illustrated cover is classless and inappropriate. Like seriously, cover your vagina, kids see this mag in the grocery store," another commented.
Despite perennial backlash that the new Sports Illustrated cover shamelessly exploits and objectifies women, ABC News said the magazine has defended its cover.
"After 50 years of swimsuit, what everyone knows is that one person's risqué is another's sexy," the magazine's rep stated.
Hannah Davis, the SI cover girl, also addressed the issue in an interview with Matt Lauer for "Today Show."
"I think SI always tries to do something a little different every year," Davis said as quoted by Us Weekly. "I think this year, it's the year of the torso."
Though the shot was done for artistic purposes, The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has asked retailers to remove the magazine from public display, especially the checkout line. The agency also urged to wrap the magazine like any other pornographic publication.
Do you think the society is just being prudent about the new Sports Illustrated cover? Or is it really inappropriately done?
