Seems like it was only three days ago we talked about the editors of Rolling Stone's very dumb idea to drum up publicity by putting the Boston Bomber terrorist on its cover, and then played the "we're serious journalists" card when people got upset. But no matter how they tried to spin it, it a lot of people were unhappy about it. Some retail outlets removed the offending cover, because a lot of people were offended by it.
This caused some bone-headed twitter snarks to cary CENSORSHIP at the top of their lungs. News flash-- Rolling Stone's website is still up. Rolling Stone is still wildly available. Therefore, it hasn't been censored.
News Flash Part Two: No matter how they tried to justify it, the photo of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in all his soft-focus-lensed beauty is still a photo of a terror suspect and not a rock star. He ain't no Ozzy Osbourne.
Speaking of, Jack Osbourne (Son of The Ozzman) is not happy with Rolling Stone's cover either, and has started a petition on Change.Org that pretty nails it.
Innocent people have been killed or injured by the alleged actions of this man. There is no justification for awarding him a cover spot traditionally reserved for entertainment icons. It is this kind of action that encourages other sick individuals to act out in hopes of earning notoriety or martyrdom for their cause.
Rolling Stone released a statement that said, “The cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone’s long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day.”
This petition does not take issue with the cover story, but the cover. We support the first amendment and the freedom of the press, but we do not support glorifying suspected terrorists in this manner.
The innocent victims, their families, the first responders, and the people of Boston are the ones who deserve to be honored and remembered.
We challenge Rolling Stone Magazine to donate ALL profits (retail and advertising revenue) generated from the August issue to all the victims, surviving family members, and first responders adversely affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.
By the way, there have been some very funny suggestions (as to alternative covers floating around the internet, but I think this one might be my favorite. I wish they had done a few more, but damn, the idea of putting Dzhokhar's Tsarnaev's face on previous album covers makes a larger point about celebrity than what Rolling Stone tried (and failed) to do.