It's offensive, because the dark skinned models are clearly staring at the light skinned woman in a worshipful (or jealous) manner (they are objects, servants- but she is the queen and the center of attention). Also, the phrase ' stepping out of the shadows' is ridiculous. Whoever designed this should be fired. Do designers not think about the message they want to send when creating such depictions?
It's culturally/ethnically insensitive, but as for definitely racist- I am uncertain. I will say that this cover is not flattering to the women to the left and right of the model nor the designers who created the image. I do not want dark skinned or black women to be objectified- when an act/depiction removes the humanity of a person based on his/her race, then yes it is racist whether you like it or not. Can you not see this- even if you are not of minority descent? How would you like to be portrayed in this manner?
FHM Magazine (Philippines Edition) Pulls March Cover After Complaints: Is It Racist?
SodaHead Living
2012/02/27 22:17:13
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Get ready to be offended. The Philippines edition of British lad mag FHM has pulled its March cover and issued an apology following complaints of racism, The Telegraph reports. The questionable cover shows Filipina actress Bela Padilla in a pink bikini surrounded by black models in black bikinis with the cover line: "Bela Padilla stepping out of the shadows." Yikes.
FHM admitted there were "a slew of comments on the supposed 'racism' of the cover image and cover line" after the original cover was uploaded to the magazine's Facebook page on Saturday, leading them to come up with a new cover.
"When FHM hits the stands in March it will have a different cover. We deem this to be the most prudent move in the light of the confusion over the previous cover execution," said a statement from Summit Media, the magazine's publishers, according to The Telgraph. "We apologize and thank those who have raised their points. We apologize to Bela Padilla for any distress this may have caused her. In our pursuit to come up with edgier covers, we will strive to be more sensitive next time."
Padilla, a 20-year-old soap opera star, also apologized for her participation. "The concept was stepping out of MY inhibitions, MY fears, MY shadows. Not bashing a certain race," she tweeted. Do you find the cover racist? Or at least insensitive?
"When FHM hits the stands in March it will have a different cover. We deem this to be the most prudent move in the light of the confusion over the previous cover execution," said a statement from Summit Media, the magazine's publishers, according to The Telgraph. "We apologize and thank those who have raised their points. We apologize to Bela Padilla for any distress this may have caused her. In our pursuit to come up with edgier covers, we will strive to be more sensitive next time."
Padilla, a 20-year-old soap opera star, also apologized for her participation. "The concept was stepping out of MY inhibitions, MY fears, MY shadows. Not bashing a certain race," she tweeted. Do you find the cover racist? Or at least insensitive?
my attempt at sarcasim of the whole story...
So grow up and get a life...so when everyone wants to get the darker tan are they racist?
do not let an oportunity, any oportunity , pass with out first looking to see if a card can be pulled out...
sorta makes the race card less effective , does it not ???
Just as a side note, I see a ton of people saying basically "get over something that happen 100 years ago" or "racism is over, you're imagining things"..Btw Believe it or not folks, racism/ discrimination is not gone.
How is this NOT racist? They have her stepping out of "The Shadows", a bunch of black women, like she's something better!
I say that assuming this is racist is the offensive thing. I love how the race thing is over shadowing the "exploiting women" crap. They are not all the same color but they ARE all women.
**You can't preach about how skin color shouldn't matter and then call out things like this, thus proving that skin color matters to YOU**
2) I was referencing a show where it pointed out what most people do when it comes to racism and I was comparing it: they don't see racism or care about it unless it affects them. Ugh. Just look up the summary of the episode I listed.
I don't know if this is something that has evolved from religion, a history of occupation or developed by a long term marketing campaign by western cosmetic companies.
It's easy to see how this can be seen as racist, but the Philippines has this notion that pale is more beutiful.
If you go to Thailand, pale skin and ginger hair would make you akin to a supreme being. That's not racism, that's portrayed from religious history.