It's pretty sad when a successful athlete and a successful model can't appear together on the cover of a magazine without igniting a controversy. We're drowning in political correctness here, folks, and unfortunately, I think it's going to get worse before it gets better. Jason Whitlock has expressed confusion over the negative reaction and so do I. May I suggest that those who see racist overtones in this picture are racists? I have another suggestion. For next month's cover, put Gisele in a basketball uniform with her game face on and LeBron in a sexy dress. — Max_G

Why do so many people want to be offended? They are just waiting to pounce on the slightest perceived transgression. The King Kong likeness never would have occurred to me if an issue wouldn't have been made of the cover. I don't know what Vogue's intent was with this picture, but some of the claims are so ridiculous that they actually perpetuate racism. I am of the opinion that Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and their like create racism to make themselves relevant. They stir racial tensions and then rail against what they have created. Using Barkley and Rodman as examples doesn't prove anything. I like Sir Charles, but neither he, nor Rodman, were known for their calm demeanors. They played with a lot of emotion, so it is natural to portray them as such. Sometimes a picture is just a picture. — gocolts4

As an African-American woman, and avid basketfall fan, I see nothing wrong with this photo. I think that the so-called "controversy" is nothing more than political correctness run amok. I mean really - we should be open-minded and intelligent enough to not see racism in every photo, phrase, or behavior. This is not the dream Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for. We can and should be above this foolishness. Instead of looking for trouble where there is none, we should be concerned with healing the ills of our country. — tallcoolbeauty

I've scanned through most of the responses to Jason's commentary and the majority say "who cares, enough is enough, and isn't it time racism went away". It all sounds good when you're replying about a basketball player and a model but what about the presidential candidates? Are you able to proclaim the same stance? How many of you are ready to vote for a black man for president? Or is it ok to let it go in sports but not when it comes to something that brings it home? Let's at least be consistent about one thing. Racism will always be a part of this countries culture simply because of the way this nation was created and the underlying bitterness that rises to the top each time we're reminded of it or when someone or group wants to test the water to see how far we've come. As for a book to give us direction, we already have it. It's called the Bill of Rights. I think it says " don't worry about who's on the cover of some damn magazine". — flatlandman

I didn't see the King Kong/ Fay Wray thing until I read it in the article. He just looks powerful, and at the top of his game, rather than dangerous. She looks happy - smiling, hardly the damsel in distress that Fay Wray's character was in King Kong. Plus, as tall as she is, he hardly looks like a giant primate compared to her. I see power, beauty, fame, prestige, etc. - not racist stereotypes, and I am a Black female. — sweeterthan

When I logged on to my homepage and saw that the cover of Vogue was the lead story, do you know what the first thing I noticed about it was? How out of balance it seemed. Here was a basketball player with an aggressive pose and a model with a non-aggressive pose. I couldn't figure out what the cover was supposed to be about, because it didn't seem to make any sense. I wasn't thinking about the color of either person's skin or any of that other nonsense. I was surprised that the article about the cover was to discuss whether or not there is a controversy over it because I just don't see it. — angpoc

The LeBron/"supermodel" cover of vogue is racist and disturbing. Like a lot of other current advertising by the chosen few it hints that to have the best physical attributes one must either be a black man or a white women. Is that their perfect couple? What about the other billions of people on this planet that do not fall in to either category? The article that their picture was for, discusses the best bodies. That is were my comment comes from. Current media, celebrities and ad execs are severly warped and misguided people. — Soonerfan33

This is ridiculous - I can't understand why anyone would be mad about this cover. I think this is nit-picking and if everyone would stop focusing on negativity all the time and making race an issue when it isn't, this would be a better world. It's a cool looking cover, I think they both look awesome. — Alex2107

As a man of color, I would have to say that this is getting out of hand. The media amps this kind of dribble everyday and makes serious racism issues look mudane. LeBron on the cover with the look he has is how he is on the court, period. This image is not serious to the state that people of color are in. We have to deal with what is going on in our own communities before we worry about what's going on outside. Futhermore, we need to stop being hypocritical about what is a bad image and what is not. Grow up people and stop with these childish actions. — Life n the trenches

To those who ask why the controversy; I say why not? To those who say big deal; I say damn right. The bottom line is it ain't easy being racially oblivious in America. Damn if you do this and damn if you do that. Unfortunately, our history prevails our legacy. Even though some Blacks are offended by this imagery and some aren't, doesn't make it inoffensive.

I personally would not have been offended had the photo appeared on the front a sports magazine, where athletic prowess even aggression in this sense is legitimate. However Vogue is a fashion magazine. Moreover, LeBron is the first Black man to appear on its cover. Because we are depicted negatively in media so often, or marginalized to the stereotypical animal prowess, happy dancer, opportunities to demonstrate polish, elegance, intelligence should not be missed. Not only for Blacks to see and be proud of and emulate, but for Whites to see and expect and respect.

LeBron is a typical young'n who will no doubt growup and not be so proud of this cover. If he develops an ounce of integrity, self-respect and culturual understanding. — Shugaculturalist

The fact that you have to ask if you're supposed to be offended shows the confusion even within the black community regarding race relations, let alone between different races. Photographs are permanent and subject to the viewer's interpretation. I see no "dangerous black man" in this photo, but I'm not hyper-sensitive regarding racial issues. How is a young black child supposed to achieve anything of greatness when he/she is raised to believe the cards are stacked against them? America is the land of opportunity. Use your brain, people! Everything below the neck is minimum wage. — Sports Nut

About 20 years ago, give or take a few, Newsweek's cover story was that America had become a nation of whiners. A generation later, nothing has changed. The whining is now X 10. This cover is full of energy and the joy of being young and beautiful (that's a little phony, but different issue altogether). We, as a nation, need to get a grip and realize how privileged we are. While the majority of the rest of the world struggles to survive, we wallow in self-indulgence. Let's put this energy into devising a plan to help ease the pain of the displaced in Africa or Iraq and cut the BLEEP about LeBron and Giselle. — Miami Heaven

News » Was cover a controversy? See what our users think
Was cover a controversy? See what our users think
Jason Whitlock didn't quite understand why he was supposed to be offended by the Vogue cover featuring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen. And apparently, a fair number of you agreed with him. But on a topic as nuanced as the media's portrayal of the black athlete, there was bound to be some wide-ranging opinion. And so we've compiled a handful of comments from among the more than 1,000 that we received on the subject. Cover controversy? Whitlock: What's the issue with LeBron? LeBron-Gisele cover draws criticism Blog: Who's the real racist here? Message board | Bloggers on the topic Less controversial pics of Gisele More on MSN: The shoot | The story