I can’t see how this cover can be racist. Though I still wouldn’t agree but I would probably understand if they say it’s sexist because it stereotypes men to seem like they are savage.

What I see is a picture of an athlete and a model having fun. That’s before I even read what the cover story was about - Shape Issue: Secrets of the Best Bodies, The world’s Top Models and Star Athletes. So I would say, Annie Leibovitz and Anna Wintour was right on the spot and the cover was pretty effective. If they wanted Lebron James in a much tamer pose Vogue should have just gone with Tony Parker.

Athletes use intimidation in sports and it could easily have been Stone Cold Steve Austin posing with Giselle in the same way. Though Steve Austin wouldn’t provide an aesthetic color contrast to Giselle because they’re both fair skinned. But would photographs of people with contrasting skin color be considered racist as well? Whatever happened to “for art’s sake”. Maybe Giselle should just post with a black stallion or something.

I can actually imagine myself posing like Lebron James but I’m not a celebrity and no one cares what image I project.