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| Rolling Stone's controversial Dzohkhar Tsarnaev cover ignites heated debate | Rolling Stone's controversial Dzohkhar Tsarnaev cover ignites heated debate |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| With his smoky eyes and tousled hair, the subject of the latest Rolling Stone cover story could pass for any rising US music star. | With his smoky eyes and tousled hair, the subject of the latest Rolling Stone cover story could pass for any rising US music star. |
| But this is no ordinary pop portrait. The stark cover line, "The Bomber", overlays a picture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 19-year-old Boston Marathon bombing suspect, and when the magazine published the cover on Tuesday night there was an immediate backlash. One criminologist warned that it glorified Tsarnaev – accused of planting bombs which killed three people and injured more than 260 others – and could send a dangerous message to others. On Wednesday, the pharmacy chain CVS said it would not stock the issue. | But this is no ordinary pop portrait. The stark cover line, "The Bomber", overlays a picture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 19-year-old Boston Marathon bombing suspect, and when the magazine published the cover on Tuesday night there was an immediate backlash. One criminologist warned that it glorified Tsarnaev – accused of planting bombs which killed three people and injured more than 260 others – and could send a dangerous message to others. On Wednesday, the pharmacy chain CVS said it would not stock the issue. |
| The photo accompanies an article by Rolling Stone contributing editor Janet Reitman, which the magazine described as a "deeply reported account" of Tsarnaev's life, including the revelation that he had played down his Muslim faith in high school. The magazine promised "a riveting and heartbreaking account of how a charming kid with a bright future became a monster". | The photo accompanies an article by Rolling Stone contributing editor Janet Reitman, which the magazine described as a "deeply reported account" of Tsarnaev's life, including the revelation that he had played down his Muslim faith in high school. The magazine promised "a riveting and heartbreaking account of how a charming kid with a bright future became a monster". |
| Recent editions of Rolling Stone have featured photos of Johnny Depp, the Rolling Stones and the cast of Seinfeld in glossy, glamorised shots. But the Tsarnaev cover attracted far more attention on the magazine's Facebook page, with 9,000 comments posted by Wednesday morning. | Recent editions of Rolling Stone have featured photos of Johnny Depp, the Rolling Stones and the cast of Seinfeld in glossy, glamorised shots. But the Tsarnaev cover attracted far more attention on the magazine's Facebook page, with 9,000 comments posted by Wednesday morning. |
| Rolling Stone did not publish the Tsarnaev profile online, which had the effect of focusing the debate on the picture. Shawn Anthony wrote: "I think it's wrong to make celebrities out of these people. Why give the guy the cover of Rolling Stone?" in a sentiment that was given the thumbs up by 1,202 people. | Rolling Stone did not publish the Tsarnaev profile online, which had the effect of focusing the debate on the picture. Shawn Anthony wrote: "I think it's wrong to make celebrities out of these people. Why give the guy the cover of Rolling Stone?" in a sentiment that was given the thumbs up by 1,202 people. |
| "Jeff Bauman, who lost both legs, should be on cover," wrote J Harper Philbin, in a post liked 1,428 times. | "Jeff Bauman, who lost both legs, should be on cover," wrote J Harper Philbin, in a post liked 1,428 times. |
| "I am ending my subscription. This is bullshit. Let's honor those who hurt innocent people. Who's next, George Zimmerman?? Rolling Stone is a music magazine, not the Taliban Times," wrote another Facebook user. | "I am ending my subscription. This is bullshit. Let's honor those who hurt innocent people. Who's next, George Zimmerman?? Rolling Stone is a music magazine, not the Taliban Times," wrote another Facebook user. |
| Northeastern University criminologist Jack Levin told MyFoxBoston.com that the cover could send a dangerous message to others who might be minded to carry out violence: "If they want to become famous, kill somebody." | Northeastern University criminologist Jack Levin told MyFoxBoston.com that the cover could send a dangerous message to others who might be minded to carry out violence: "If they want to become famous, kill somebody." |
| Within hours, CVS announced that it would not sell the issue in its store. "As a company with deep roots in New England and a strong presence in Boston, we believe this is the right decision out of respect for the victims of the attack and their loved ones," it said. | Within hours, CVS announced that it would not sell the issue in its store. "As a company with deep roots in New England and a strong presence in Boston, we believe this is the right decision out of respect for the victims of the attack and their loved ones," it said. |
| Dan Kennedy, who teaches journalism at Boston's Northeastern University, said he shared Levin's concern, but said that "purely as a magazine cover, it was kind of brilliant". | Dan Kennedy, who teaches journalism at Boston's Northeastern University, said he shared Levin's concern, but said that "purely as a magazine cover, it was kind of brilliant". |
| "It works because of cognitive dissonance. We see him looking rather angelic on the cover, and just about every picture we've seen of him he looks angelic, that apparently is how he looked. | "It works because of cognitive dissonance. We see him looking rather angelic on the cover, and just about every picture we've seen of him he looks angelic, that apparently is how he looked. |
| "And meanwhile we see the cover type: 'The bomber. A monster'. So that works well as a really dissonant juxtaposition." | "And meanwhile we see the cover type: 'The bomber. A monster'. So that works well as a really dissonant juxtaposition." |
| Kennedy noted that no retailers refused to carry the New York Times when it used the same picture on its front pages, and said the furore may have been driven by a lack of understanding of the kind of journalism Rolling Stone does. | |
| "I assume that the editors at Rolling Stone knew that the cover would be controversial, but this may be spinning out of control in ways they did not anticipate. | "I assume that the editors at Rolling Stone knew that the cover would be controversial, but this may be spinning out of control in ways they did not anticipate. |
| "One possible explanation for that is that a lot of people really don't understand Rolling Stone. They think it features nothing on the cover but entertainers and celebrities, and in fact Rolling Stone often features serious news on the cover." | "One possible explanation for that is that a lot of people really don't understand Rolling Stone. They think it features nothing on the cover but entertainers and celebrities, and in fact Rolling Stone often features serious news on the cover." |
| Last week, Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to 30 counts, including use of a weapon of mass destruction to kill, a charge that could result in the death penalty. Federal prosecutors allege that Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, planted improvised bombs made from pressure cookers close to the finishing line of the Boston marathon on 15 April. | Last week, Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to 30 counts, including use of a weapon of mass destruction to kill, a charge that could result in the death penalty. Federal prosecutors allege that Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, planted improvised bombs made from pressure cookers close to the finishing line of the Boston marathon on 15 April. |
| Three people were killed and 264 injured in the blasts. Three days later a police officer was killed during a gunfight between the Tsarnaevs and police. Tamerlan Tsarnaev also died during the standoff, and Dzohkar Tsarnaev was found the next day, hiding in a boat. | Three people were killed and 264 injured in the blasts. Three days later a police officer was killed during a gunfight between the Tsarnaevs and police. Tamerlan Tsarnaev also died during the standoff, and Dzohkar Tsarnaev was found the next day, hiding in a boat. |