Rolling Stone gave the public a preview of its August cover story and cover photo on July 17, and the public was not happy. The photo makes alleged Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev look like a rock star, say some, and many on social media condemned the choice.
Boston mayor Thomas Menino released a statement later in the day saying the cover “rewards a terrorist with celebrity treatment.”
“It is ill-concieved, at best, and re-affirms a terrible message that destruction gains fame for killers and their ‘causes,’” he added. “There may be valuable journalism behind your sensational treatment, though we can’t know because almost all you released is the cover.”
Menino said that instead of featuring Tsarnaev on the cover the focus should have been on “the brave and strong survivors and on the thousands of people--their family and friends, volunteers, first responders, doctors, nurses, and donors--who have come to their side.”
“The survivors of the Boston attacks deserve Rolling stone cover stories, though I no longer feel that Rolling Stone deserves them,” said Menino.
The media outlet defended the decision in a statement also released Wednesday afternoon, saying the decision to publish the cover story “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.”
“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,” said Rolling Stone.
The CVS pharmacy chain, based about 50 miles from Boston in Woonsocket, R.I., and a Rockland, Mass.-based convenience store chain, Tedeschi Food Shops, both said they will not carry the magazine.
“Tedeschi Food Shops supports the need to share the news with everyone, but cannot support actions that serve to glorify the evil actions of anyone,” the chain said on its Facebook page. “Music and terrorism don’t mix!”
One of the marathon runners, Lauren Gabler, who works in IT consulting in Washington and was running her fourth Boston Marathon this year, said she at first thought the Rolling Stone photo was of a model or rock star and was surprised when she realized it was Tsarnaev.
“The cover almost tricks you into what you’re looking at,” she said.
She had finished the race well ahead of went the bombs went off hours into the race but was two blocks away headed to brunch when she heard and felt the explosions. She was not hurt.
“I haven’t read the article yet, and I know it will probably be quite in-depth, but my initial reaction is that the photo that’s being used almost makes him look like a good guy,” she said. “That’s the story line, but I think the public will have trouble, like me, making the association between here’s the Boston bomber and here’s the guy who appears to be cool on the cover of Rolling Stone.”
Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty in the bombings.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
