On its latest controversial issue, Rolling Stone Magazine has placed Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a bombing suspect in the Boston Marathon, on the cover of their August issue. The glam photo of the suspect sparked a firestorm Wednesday, especially from the readers in the Boston area, condemning the magazine of turning an accused killer into a “rock star.”
The music magazine features Tsarnaev in contributing editor Janet Reitman’s article entitled “The Bomber: How a Popular, Promising Student Was Failed by His Family, Fell Into Radical Islam and Became a Monster.”
The story of the 19-year-old was drawn from the interviews with his friends, teachers, neighbors, and law enforcement officials, the magazine reported. Reitman believes that the article presents “a riveting and heartbreaking account of how a charming kid with a bright future became a monster.”
Although the article may be worth the read, it’s the glamorous cover image on the Rolling Stone issue that is upsetting most of the social media. Tsarnaev is well-groomed and shamelessly looking into the camera. The photographers of Rolling Stone did not require that the young man show remorse or pity for his bombings, but only the boldness that will sell.
This confident image of infamy struck a nerve in the Boston and New England communities, making “Rolling Stone” the trending Twitter topic all day. The Rolling Stone Facebook page is also receiving many negative comments.
Here are a few of them:
"I am so disappointed with Rolling Stone Magazine. I have enjoyed your magazine up until now. I will no longer buy/read the mag. You have just made him a "rock star". How could you?"
“Is this for real?! Why don't the VICTIMS get the cover instead? It's sick that no one cares that people died, real people with lives and families, they just care about whatever will sell.”
“Jeff Bauman, who lost both legs, should be on cover”
"I think it's wrong to make celebrities out of these people. Why give the guy the cover of Rolling Stone? TIME gave Charles Manson the cover and all the magazines carried pictures of the Columbine shooters on the covers, too. Don't make martyrs out of these people."
“I will NEVER buy a Rolling Stone ever again. Disgraceful.”
This, however, is not the first controversial figure on their cover. The June 25, 1970, issue of Rolling Stone feature convicted cult leader and serial killer Charles Manson.
To see excerpts of the article, click here.
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
