Around this time last year, media insiders — and then the world at large &madsh; were yammering about a Vogue cover that pitted basketball wonder LeBron James and supermodel Gisele Bündchen in a King Kong scenario. Critics screamed: “RACISTS!” Vogue defended: “But we didn’t know any better.” Less ire, however, was aimed at the two subjects, James and Bündchen. Maybe we should have? Because a year later, Bündchen is opening up to a new wave of “racist!” cries.
This new shoot from Norwegian fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø is making at least some folks wonder: “can’t tell if the guys are her slaves or if they’re raping her.” To be fair, Gisele is showing the guys some affection, too.
KEVIN VANCOUVER BC
oh fer f**k sakes… seriously … ridick !
orpheus_lost
Of course these photos are racially tinged but I don’t think they’re racist at all. The whole point is that the feminine, light skinned Bundchen stands out from the large, muscular, dark skinned men. Does this resonate with historical perceptions of slavery, ignorant myths and domination/submission themes? Sure, there’s no denying that and I don’t think the photographer wanted to. Racism works best when discussion of race is shoved down and allowed to ferment in ignorance. These photos have the exact opposite effect.
orpheus_lost
@kademonster: yeah, Kademonster, if you think that “black cops give rich white kids as many tickets as white cops give poor black kids. this is just a game to people these days” you probably have some issues with different races. That was a remarkably ignorant comment as was your silly “f*ck everyone” remark.
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
@orpheus_lost:
He did this on purpose.
But dose black men sure are lucky! So pure! So angelic!
Thump those chest collectively and stamp your feet!
tavdy79
OK, so some people see those photos as racist. Why not sexist?
Erick
This just goes to show that people bring their own hang ups and issues when viewing art.
AJ
I think these are hot!
Joey
Calling out racism is not victimizing yourself, seeking attention or tag it’s penetrator of racist himself. In this case, it’s mostly an observation of an imagery, it’s racial baggage and what is its outreach and effects in the social and individual psyche. I don’t know if kademonster is racist, but his comprehension of the racism phenomena in modern society is quite superficial, narrow and inaccurate. How is black police officer giving more tickets to white kids relevant to the large spectrum of racism? Does going full out on prejudice and discrimination evens groups relations and social inequalities out? It’s pretty widespread and I don’t think it’s ill intended in most case, but there can’t be progress if that’s how we tackle the issue of racism.
John Santos
Critics screamed: “RACISTS!”
I remember Cord Jefferson was one of those critics.
Dabq
Racist? Who knows, but, the imagery does open the door to the question since like it or not black men and white women still tick off many billions of people on this planet. And, the biggest question of all is why is this chick considered beautiful, icky on so many levels.
afrolito
Of course the images have an undeniable racial element, but it will take a lot more evidence to declare it racist. I find them beautiful and provocative on a surface level, even though Giselle usually annoys me to no end.
To the moron above who finds it hard to believe there’s racism in the fashion industry. I guess he’s never opened a fashion magazine EVER. I work with models everyday here in New York, so I see it on the ground level.
Btw, why is this story even on this blog? It has absolutely nothing to do with gays or gay issues.
Sal
Um, these photos definitely have some racial stuff going on. I think the photographer just wanted to be controversial. Anyway, those men are quite tasty, Giselle not so much.
getreal
Thanks for the race baiting Queerty. I’m black and I would bet there are not many black people criticizing these pictures. Stop with the faux white guilt “is this racist” bullsh*t articles there is enough real racism stop looking for it where it does not exist. This beautiful photography nothing more.
RainaWeather
It’s so funny when people use “racial” in place of “racist.” Yes, the pictures to seem racist (or racial if you prefer), but that does not make them bad. They’re provocative. Much better than that other picture she had.
Andrew D
Slow news day? Since when do asinine comments from anonymous internet users warrant front page headlines?
How about some real news? Maybe about queer people?
getreal
@Andrew D: I agree with your post completely.
The purpose of the post was to get racist comments out of people. It is called race baiting and it does not seem to be successful this time.
Mark M
Racist? Nah.. acknowledging that one has very dark skin, and another has very light skin, and that they look cool next to each other isn’t racist. Pretending that we are all gray is stupid.
Mickey's Mouse
maybe she’s just portraying herself as a skank, it would be rape if it was white guys doing the same. Fashion doesn’t have to make sense, and photography can be interpreted in many ways…that’s the thing about art, it is open to many interpretations…
sal
@Sal: apparently there is another new “sal” on the block
sal
@sal: can you add like something to your name cause i dont want anyone to confuse ya with me,thanks
getreal
@Mickey’s Mouse: Weird comment dude. “it would be rape if it was white guys doing the same. “??? It is a photo shoot there is nothing racist about it if the models were white it would still just be interesting photographs of attractive people nothing more. It seems like people are projecting their own issues onto the pictures.
Toby2009
whatever the case may be gisele looks like she is enjoying herself and so do the guys. everyone looks happy so what’s the big deal?
Toby2009
Did anyone notice the ad at the bottom of this page for “afro-romance”? it’s a site for interracial dating. wonder if this has something to do with this story. the dating site appears to be straight.
getreal
@Toby2009: No that ad is on here every day funny that you noticed it now very apropos.
AJ
It’s targeted advertising. Google is aware.
james james
@getreal: Since you’re so perfect why don’t you make your own website. If you ant to make one that won’t make people fall asleep sometime’s you might post something a little different. Queerty was remembering last years shoot and noted that this could possibly be targeted for being called racist. That’s it, nothing more. Get your own website if you’re so perfect and unracist. You sound like the one race baiting here, sorry to be the one to tell you.
Aaron Khan
If the men were white, nobody would say anything. This is stupid.
Casper O
Orpheus is on the right track if you ask me.
I think that we did let Anna Wintour, who oversaw the cover of Vogue with Lebron, go to easy though. Mainly because there is no way famed and fairly intellectual photographer Annie Liebovitz didn’t know about her obvious reference.
jason
How is this racist? Sheesh, get a life. It shows a statuesque Giselle with several statuesque black men. It’s not racist in the slightest.
Sam
Vogue not having a black cover model for almost 12 years = racism
These pictures = not so much
Sam
@Aaron Khan: Well… yeah. But isn’t that kinda like saying Barack Obama wouldn’t have faced racism from white folks if he’d just been white?
Sky
Racist? Holy shit can’t we just have beautiful black men do ANYTHING without people screaming the race card? I rather enjoy the fact that it doesn’t have your typical cookie cutter Adonis white men carrying her around. The contrast between Gisele and the men surrounding her makes for a phenomenal black and white (no pun intended) Contrast between the two. Fantastic pictures either way.
sparkle obama
>> black cops give rich white kids as many tickets as white cops give poor black kids. this is just a game to people these days. people generally disgust me. so i’m a human racist. f*ck everyone.<<
well, if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.
read a book, go back to school, fool.
i too feel that this site is race-baiting and ignorant.
however…
dig your head out of the sand, baby gay.
you have No Idea.
getreal
@james james: This is not a racist ad. This is just beautiful photography. Clearly I struck some kind of nerve with you. I happen to think it is silly to look for racism where it does not exist when there is real discrimination to address. I don’t think I’m perfect i’m just not racist. Maybe you should stop projecting your anger onto others it is not productive.
Fredric
If you find thses pictures racist, you should have taken the issue up over 3 years ago. These pictures are from V magazine #42, published in august/sept of 06. How did you just stumble across them now?