Actor Jonathan Majors is definitely enjoying a moment right now. Besides starring as the villain Kang in the new Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania movie, he’s also about to star alongside Michael B Jordan in the new Creed sequel.
As such, he’s been doing lots of press. A couple of weeks ago, photos he shot for the cover of the long-running magazine Ebony went viral.
The biggest reaction was one of admiration and lust. Many asked for Ebony to bring back its print editions or produce posters. However, it seems some people were triggered by the photoshoot.
“Uh…..so I guess I’m the only one who sees this cover as kinda effeminate???” said one person on Instagram.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
However, when Ebony posted a second digital cover late last week, it prompted a tsunami of disgust.
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In this photo, Majors wears a fluffy pink coat. He sits with his legs crossed and wears a boots-jean combo that looks a little like thigh-high boots.
Many made their disapproval known…
Hollywood’s most wanted until he posed like this … 🥺🙃
— Kitt B. (@Earthtokitt) February 18, 2023
Sad your rag does this to men. No one likes it.
— Buffy Dalford (@BuffyDalford) February 19, 2023
What happened to masculine hot straight men. Pathetic
— Simon Elove (@szymonelove) February 18, 2023
I’m not feeling the pink. STOP EMASCULATING BLACK MEN! 😤
— Lana L (@latham_lana) February 18, 2023
On Instagram, one well-liked comment said, “Of all the photos yall could have made the cover😢 There is definitely an agenda with our black men and ion like that. We love Jonathan Majors but this is a MAJOR NO NO.”
“Why, Ebony? Come on now! Such a handsome ‘man’ and then you throw a pink fluffy coat on him… I’m sick of this!! Enough is enough.”
Related: Jonathan Majors’ latest nearly nude teaser pic has everyone feeling way too teased
Others pointed out this was Ebony‘s Valentine’s issue, hence the abundance of pink and red roses.
Some said men, of any sexuality, should be allowed to dress however they want to dress.
“The amount of comments about this not being masculine is just… ugh!!! We have such a limited understanding of masculinity. It’s sad,” said one. “People clearly don’t understand art and artistry. And, also… some of these same ppl had NO problem with Prince, Rick James, etc… just let men be, however they want to be… and you be you, however that looks to you.”
“Nothing is monolith—not Blackness, not maleness”
Majors himself, who has a daughter and has talked in interviews about dating women, spoke in the accompanying interview about wanting to break down barriers.
“What I’m trying to do with my work is show nothing is monolith—not Blackness, not maleness, not comic book villains.”
For those interested, stylist Alexander-Julian Gibbsonsays he was inspired by an anime cartoon when creating this particular look for Majors.
Jonathan Majors’ recent photoshoot was inspired by One Piece’s Doflamingo https://t.co/lcYrEfGmsb pic.twitter.com/YBumeBs4Qf
— Nerdist (@nerdist) February 10, 2023
Majors also said he was inspired by one of his favorite athletes, basketball player Allen Iverson when preparing for the shoot.
Jonathan Majors took inspiration from one of his favorite athletes for this cover shoot. Allen Iverson was never scared to express himself & his Blackness. Jonathan Majors chose to do the same, expressing his Black masculinity in ways he never has before. pic.twitter.com/nGIJhyjn2w
— EBONY MAGAZINE (@EBONY) February 14, 2023
Related: Jonathan Majors’ hunky photo spread has everyone on their worst behavior
We think Majors looks stunning in all the images. If you’re also a fan, Ebony has also released a short behind-the-scenes video of the shoot.
Join us behind the scenes of our February cover shoot with Hollywood’s Most Wanted, Jonathan Majors. Come see him express his Black masculinity in ways we’ve never seen before. Access our exclusive February Cover Experience at https://t.co/G7nqMKum95.https://t.co/euZQrQ0BIQ pic.twitter.com/NOijsVMcJx
— EBONY MAGAZINE (@EBONY) February 7, 2023
abfab
No complaints from this peanut gallery……lord give me strenght to endure the HARDships of this day!
LumpyPillows
We need to stop agreeing. People will begin to talk. Cam will accuse us of being the same person. Pigs might take flight.
abfab
LOL Tru dat! But what’s really insane is this idea or practice of having split identities on a site like this, or any for that matter. I hadn’t heard of such a thing till him or others who have made that accusation here.
Very sad people…..
So…Mr Majors is (two words I detest) AMAZING AND AWESOME! Yum mee!
Creamsicle
He’s stunning and all these people are doing is revealing how fragile their own version of masculinity is.
Masculinity so fragile that a pink feather can shatter it.
This was also a shoot for a February publication, so the pinks and reds are very fitting. Dark and tan skin also looks amazing with reds and pinks. It took me a long time to embrace color, and realizing that certain colors looked particularly good with my brown skin made me appreciate MY color more.
abfab
Far out! Love that.
JDT
Nice comment, I agree completely. Especially he looks great in the photos and looks very confident.
Kangol2
Why are people so fragile? I’m glad Jonathan Majors can laugh it off and is secure in himself, his sexuality and his manhood. But these other people: get help! Your utter fear of who you really are is glaring!
Troyfight
….because they are jealous, @Kangol2….Hyper-jealous because he’s a black man, trying to do something fresh/different/fun. If Brad Pitt did this, people wouldn’t blink.
Just.my.opinion
Like it or not, he agreed to it. He was not forced to do this photo shoot.
DBMC
And he looks amazing!
DBMC
Gorgeous man!
Donston
Any time a “straight” assumed black man does anything that could possibly be even vaguely attached to ”fruitiness”, a bunch of black people show off their gay panic and insecurities. There’s still this desire for black men (especially if they’re “straight presenting” and have sex appeal) to be as “hard” as possible. Yet, many of these people shame toxic masculine behaviors or are quick to throw out random generalizations about how “all you men are ‘gay”. Of course, there’s also a good amount of that from white people (of the Christian variety usually) and some queers (of the femme-phobic or self-hating variety).
bachy
I like the first one with the bouquets of roses, and the last one with the tossed rose. But I don’t care for the one with the fluffy pink coat, the thigh-highs and the trout-mouth expression. It doesn’t look original to me – just like a Pose-ripoff by someone whose films have nothing to do with transgenderism.
abfab
Trout-mouth? Surely you must be thinking of our favourite friend, Kimberly Gillyfoil. She looks exactly like the Incredible Mr. Limpett! Although she is more of a shark than a pond fish…..
LumpyPillows
We need to loudly support men and boys acting any way they like. We all have a feminine side. It is the rejection of this that warps people. It also is a fundamental reason why I think a lot of fem gay boys are thinking they are girls, as if they aren’t real boys because they don’t fit the cave man stereotype. They are real boys. We need to tell them that loudly and clearly lest some Jeffrey Marsh freak convinces them other wise.
bachy
::::mic drop:::
Donston
This idea I can somewhat agree with, but then you have to throw in unnecessary shit.
Masculine and feminine instincts and gender aspects are their own spectrum. Even queers got way too caught up in how men and women are supposed to act and be like and present themselves. And yes, being fem or liking to wear makeup or liking to wear “women’s clothes” or having gender dimensions do not equate to being trans or being non-male or non-female. Even most trans people don’t see things from that perspective. However, this particular “outrage” has less to do with trans and more to do with toxic masculinity, gay panic and this idea that being attractive and masculine and wanted by women is the highest aspiration for black manhood.
LumpyPillows
Donston, I agree or see value in everything you just wrote. Except the first need to attack me for some reason unspecified. If it is because you support Jeffery Marsh…then we have a real values issue. He’s toxic as plutonium.
abfab
Pill, you made me look up Marsh by the mere mention. Ew, thanks a lot! Now I’m getting all nauseuasaseaus. I’m glad this thing slipped under my gaydar when ever it was that this person came upon the scene.
bachy
Has Queerty done an article on this character yet? Can’t wait to see the comments section blow up on this one…..