Usher is set to grace the cover of Vogue for the first time, ahead of his highly anticipated performance at the Super Bowl 58 halftime show. However, the fashion magazine is facing backlash for featuring a youth football team alongside the R&B superstar and ’90s supermodel Carolyn Murphy.
Social media users took to platforms like Instagram and Twitter to express their discontent with Vogue’s editorial decisions. Many questioned why Usher, with his extensive career, was not given a solo cover and instead had to share it with a model.
The cover, shot by Black photographer Campbell Addy, has sparked discussions about Vogue’s treatment of Black celebrities in the past. The magazine previously faced controversy for featuring NBA legend LeBron James alongside supermodel Gisele Bündchen in 2008, with critics pointing out racial undertones and harmful stereotypes in the cover’s depiction of the basketball star.
As Usher prepares for his performance at Allegiant Stadium near Las Vegas, the Vogue cover story highlights his upcoming album and run-up to the halftime show. However, the publication’s choice of cover imagery has sparked a conversation about representation and diversity in the fashion industry.
