Elle Magazine (I’m not going to call you dear); I’m shaking my head at you. In what you say is your well-meaning attempt to battle PeopleMagazine’s biased taste in men, you have compiled a list of gorgeous men of color. But, as with Allure’s lame attempt at celebrating natural Black hairstyles with their article, “You (yes you) can have an Afro,” your writing leaves a lot to be desired. Your Headline alone, “30 of the Sexiest Men Alive Who Aren’t White” was cringe worthy and insulting in and of itself.
I was so taken aback by your headline I reposted it on Facebook. My post opened with “What in fresh hell kind of headline is this?” My friends had reactions similar to mine.
The headline gets the side-eye for real!
Unlike · Reply · 3 · Yesterday at 6:45am
SMH
Unlike · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 7:15am
Because heaven forbid we have a list of the 30 Sexiest Men without another requirement. That would take away white men's spots!
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 23 hrs
I think they're trying to make a point.
Like · Reply · 23 hrs
Its cultural ignorance....so men of color can't be white. Rubbish!!!
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 23 hrs
They still would have gotten the side-eye, but why not just label the headlong, "30 of the Sexiest Men of Color." Simple as that!
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 23 hrs
wow
Like · Reply · 23 hrs
I think they're pointing out that the world's sexiest man has mostly been white.
Like · Reply · 1 · 22 hrs
replied · 1 Reply
I don't know the intent here, but yeah, there's better ways to make the point that sexy comes in all sorts of different colors, shapes, and sizes. Why is race even called out?
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 22 hrs
The only problem I have is that they didn't put me on that list.
Unlike · Reply · 3 · 20 hrs
Now I love me some beautiful men. Harry Shum Jr. and John Cho have both been called my husband over the years.
Mario Lopez has been fine since 1989.
I can’t wait to see Michael B. Jordan in Creed.
Idris Elba is my James Bond.
Jesse Williams is not only a handsome man but a deep thinker with tweets worth reading and retweeting.
Boris Kodjoe: I’m speechless.
Elle, the problem isn’t the gentlemen chosen. It’s the implication that they are an alternative, an also-ran. Your poor choice of words, presented as the hook for the audience, rendered them the second choice. Why not simply refer to them as men?
I suppose you will argue that your title was your way of countering People’s lily-white choices over the years. But sexy is sexy. Mentioning race was unnecessary. Y’all need tougher editors and more thoughtful writers. If you want to tackle the challenge of media bias, you will need to step up your game.
