Editors issue statement as new issue leads to boycott, online outrage

Jul 18, 2013 03:42 GMT  ·  By
The cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine sparks controversy online
   The cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine sparks controversy online

Music magazine Rolling Stone has landed in seriously troubled waters after the artwork featured on the cover of the latest issue emerged online, as it includes a selfie of Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. As cries of boycott and outrage echo online, the editors have released a statement on the matter.

There is no sense in boycotting Rolling Stone or even of feeling upset by the cover because it’s not meant to glorify Dzhokhar Tsarnaev or to paint him as a victim, they say.

In fact, “the cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone's longstanding commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage.”

In other words, the Boston bombed attack represents a tragedy that must be analyzed further. Only by looking at Dzhokar’s life can this be accomplished.

“The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens,” the editors explain in the same statement.

They make no mention of the alleged Jim Morrison resemblance reported yesterday.