The cover of Rolling Stone magazine is creating major controversy after it was released and featured Boston Marathon Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Thousands of people vowed not to buy this issue or support in in any way. Celebrities also tweeted their disgust and called the magazine out for promoting someone who caused a lot of pain and grieve in many American families.
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Even Boston mayor Thomas M. Menino sent out a letter to Wenner Media head Jann Wenner, which publishes Rolling Stone. He accused the magazine of offering Tsarnaev "celebrity treatment" and called the cover "ill-conceived, at best."
"The survivors of the Boston attacks deserve Rolling Stone cover stories, though I no longer feel that Rolling Stone deserves them," the letter concluded.
In addition, many businesses released statements that they are not going to support this Rolling Stone issue and will not sell them in their establishments. CVS was one of them.
"CVS/pharmacy has decided not to sell the current issue of Rolling Stone featuring a cover photo of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect," CVS wrote on its Facebook page. "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."
Tedeschi Food Shops also released a similar statement on their social media platforms: "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. With that being said, we will not be carrying this issue of Rolling Stone. Music and terrorism don't mix!"
Two other large supermarket chains, Big Y and Stop & Shop, also announced that they would refuse to sell the August Rolling Stone, as have Walgreens drugstores. Rite Aid and the grocery chain the Roche Bros also joined the cause.
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As of Thursday afternoon, the "Boycott Rolling Stone for Their Latest Cover" Facebook page had received over 156,000 Likes.
Although the boycotts and complaints about Rolling Stone focus specifically on the controversial cover, not the actual story, titled "Jahar's World" and written by Janet Reitman, "There may be valuable journalism behind your sensational treatment," stated Mayor Menino in his letter, "though we can't know because almost all you released is the cover," he continued.
Rolling Stone defended its story, releasing the following statement:
"Our hearts go out to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and our thoughts are always with them and their families. The cover story we are publishing this week 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."
The magazine is scheduled to hit newsstands on Friday.
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