Vanity Fair Oscar Cover – Only White People Again
I almost don’t want to link to this. How crass and cowardly of them to ONLY put young, white actresses on the cover of their filthy rag. Really, Vanity Fair? Really? In 2010? A “new Hollywood”? Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
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[...] Much has been said about its stunning lack of racial diversity, and as far as I’m concerned, every bit of that criticism is valid. Most glaringly absent is Gabourey Sidibe. I have mixed feelings about her film, but if such a widely praised, Oscar nominated performance isn’t enough to make her part of the “New Hollywood,” what is? [...]
Paddy M says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:14pm
Deja vu anyone…?
Shell says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:17pm
LOL Paddy M.
Charlie says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:19pm
Personally, I’d only keep Kendrick and Mulligan and exchange some of the others for other young actresses that have made an impact this year (Sidibe, etc…)
The picture gives of a Desperate Housewives kind of vibe.
filmboymichael says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:20pm
this is almost stepfordian in its creepiness….
SephardicThought says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:20pm
It’s racist of you to notice. haha. just kidding.
I agree, Sidibe should be somewhere there with Mulligan and Kendrick.
Jesus Alonso says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:21pm
A fair of vanities, indeed.
Danny says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:22pm
Where’s Zoe Saldana? Gaby Sidibe?
@filmboymichael it is super stepfordian
bambi says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:27pm
No K-Big (future BD winner)
No Mo (future BSA winner)
No Gabby, Meryl, SaBu (nominees for sure and one will be the winner)
No Zoe (her movie will be nominated, maybe even two if ST makes the cut, unlike movies by about 7 of the girls who grace oscar cover although their only association with this year`s Oscar may be presenting award or playing someone`s escort)
No Melanie and Diane (see above)
I like the term “super-stepfordian”. Bravo!
Blandest cover ever and so wrong for Oscar issue.
Laura says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:29pm
Yeah, seriously. To only put young, thin, pale white girls on the cover is pretty ridoinculous. I mean, really, Vanity Fair? You put Emma Stone, an actress most people have never heard of, on your cover 3 times, and yet you can’t even put Zoe Saldana, who starred in the biggest movie of 2009 and all time, on your cover? Really?
And of course, future Oscar nominees Gabby Sidibe and Mo’Nique don’t even exist to Vanity Fair because of their size. Really shameful.
Shell says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:30pm
You make good points Bambi. Though we don’t who made the cut non-cover wise, cover wise, it was clearly “young, pretty and white.”
The Reader says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:32pm
Aren’t you tired of this stupid dehumilating political correctness? Personally, I don’t want to see Gabourey Sidibe on the cover of Vanity Fair.
Vance says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:37pm
I don’t think this is “crass and cowardly”. I don’t even think it’s that big of a deal. The labels I would use for this are “irrelevant” and “dumb”, two labels that apply to the magazine itself. Vanity Fair is basically an upper-middle class equivalent of Teen Beat for adults.
Pretty pictures? Check.
Pretty ads for cologne and handbags and watches? Check.
Interesting articles? Insight? Relevance? Nah.
I’m not concerned about the lily-white message that they’re sending with this cover because I don’t value the opinions of the kind of people who would read a magazine like this. I just don’t. I think this type of thing is shallow and lame to begin with.
AD says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:37pm
Well, Zoe Saldana was on the cover two or three years ago! The main fault for all of this is Hollywood itself so don’t blame VF for what Hollywood sells to the public.
Nick says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:39pm
@ The Reader
You weightist!
Alper says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:41pm
Beautiful but hopeless (except Kristen,Anna,Evan Rachel)
bambi says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:41pm
if they want pretty and white, why not have a sole K-Big cover? Which woman in the industry is bigger story than she now? None. Also, her age shouldn`t bother them much because the woman looks as good and toned as Jennifer Aniston. So epic fail, VF, epic fail.
Simone says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:42pm
What a bland Vanity Fair issue.
Well, they don’t call it ‘Fair’ for nothing.
TinTinV says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:43pm
“Vanity UNfair”
I just hate watching the world take a step back…ugh.
bambi says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:43pm
#17 “Well, they don’t call it ‘Fair’ for nothing”
Ha!
George Bush says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:52pm
Everybody’s white? So what! Maybe Morgan Freeman couldn’t make it.
Antoinette says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:55pm
And those girls are super white. Not even just normal white. That’s kinda funny.
tmoves says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:57pm
And I was so looking forward to the VF cover to return to form on it’s Hollywood Issue since the last couple of years have been so convoluted. Look, I get why these actors are on, but I agree that Sidibe should be on here as well. At the least. There really isn’t an excuse. I’m sure she’s inside the issue, but if the point is to showcase the new starlets, then Sidibe deserves a place in this lineup.
bambi says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 3:06pm
#21 “And those girls are super white. Not even just normal white.”
You mean Deadward Cullen white? Yes. They should`ve put them in Na`vi blue instead.
The cover is boring, racial and age and weight issues aside, it`s boring to look at. It`s bland, bloodless and void of life and sexappeal. It`s exactly what Tyra Banks complains about runways. No color of any kind and not just black, white, Asian. It`s domination of one ethnic group inside one race (Eastern European girls). In this cover, there`s no visible different ethnicity among white girls. All are some Northern Europe types,Irish or Ango-Saxon or Scandinavian, no Spain, Italy, Greece to spice things up.
bob says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 3:18pm
that’s gross…. and sad.
Meredith says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 3:29pm
Very dull. And Carey Mulligan has that same expression in every photo I’ve seen of her lately.
brainypirate says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 3:42pm
[Heavy sarcasm ahead:]
Oh Sasha, the history of Oscar nominations shows quite irrefutably that English-speaking Caucasians are the best actors (writers, directors, producers, editors, etc.) in the WORLD!!!!
Why do you continue to pretend that non-Caucasians have the same talent level as the honkys?
Heck, only this year has a woman finally figured out how to make a film as good as a man’s! (At least she was white — that probably helped.)
Abhi says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 3:45pm
Zoe Saldana had a huge year. She should for sure be on this cover. Maybe even Freida Pinto just for being so pretty. And the theme of these VF covers is always young, pretty things, so why on Earth would K-Big or Monique be here??
And I agree with the other weightist here. Gaby Sidibe would have been so out of place here. Besides, it’s her first movie and I’m not sure she’s established as an actress in Hollywood yet.
Also, who is Emma Stone??
bambi says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 4:00pm
#27 ” Maybe even Freida Pinto just for being so pretty.”
No for Oscar cover. Yes for Razzie cover.
John Oliver says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 4:07pm
It just shows the limited roles for young black actresses today, just as much as yesterday.
One black actress said when there is a decent role up for a lady of color, you see every black actress we know show up for the audition.
Joolz says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 4:16pm
Its not for the Oscar cover. Its for the ‘New Hollywood’ cover. Freida Pinto would have fitted in there. Being cast in a leading role in Julian Schnabel’s next movie, and being cast in Woody Allen’s next film, is evidence enough that experienced and wise directors think she has talent and presence; and she would grace any cover that wanted to bring together a wide range of young female actors with exciting prospects.
Joolz says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 4:20pm
Ha, the Stepford Wives atmospherics is nailed on, well said, filmboymichael.
bambi says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 4:31pm
#31 “Its for the ‘New Hollywood’ cover. Freida Pinto would have fitted in there.”
No she wouldn`t. She has nothing to be proud of on her resume yet since she was terrible in Slumdog (not that her role was rocket science but plank of wood has bigger acting range) and L`Oreal commercial doesn`t count. being cast in movies without actually seeing a performance is different from being acclaimed already (Pinto`s BAFTA nom was a joke and everyone knows it). Woody and Schnabel don`t guarantee she did a good job. Unlike actresses on the Stepford cover who have critical acclaim. Pinto belongs on FHM and Maxim covers with Megan Fox, Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and such sex kittens famous for their looks only. At the moment. if she outacts Naomi watts in Woody movie than we can talk. But not before.
Other Ryan says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 4:34pm
“No for Oscar cover. Yes for Razzie cover.”
So why is Kristen Stewart on the front cover? I don’t get it.
Shy says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 4:42pm
Well I agree about Zoe Saldana. She should be there instead of Emma Stone. Again – who is she? People complaining about Moniqe or Sandra… Well it’s obvious that they meant young actresses, the future stars. And title says about 2010. Gabourey Sidibe is 2009. Does anyone think she will be remembered after Oscars? She will disappear just like Freida Pinto did. Pinto was all over the covers and events. Which she didn’t deserve. She didn’t act in Millionaire. She just looked pretty. She still plays some movies or goes to events but generally no one cares. Not media, not people. She vanished. She was star of one year. One film to be correct. Same with Gabourey Sidibe. She looked good for the type of heroine in Precious. What possibly can she play in the future? Some small supporting roles? She will never find that kind of script again. She will just vanish after Oscars will past. And i think the same will happen to Mulligan. She had one breakout movie. But i don’t see charisma in her. She can play some supporting roles like in Wall Street or indie movies but she will never be in this spotlight again. She looks like she doesn’t have personality. On every picture she looks so sad and lifeless like her favorite pet just passed away.
Joolz says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 4:45pm
Bambi, to be honest, your snark is really cheap, and Schnabel and Allen’s esteem is expensive.
That’s because they are movie directors of great artistry, who don’t mess around employing actresses without talent or presence, especially in major roles, as Julian Schnabel has done in Miral, and as Woody Allen has done in a supporting role in his latest. And so self-evidently, they know more about these things than you.
Considering that it is a cover shoot for the ‘New Hollywood’, she wouldn’t have been out of place on this cover, nor would other Black or Asian actresses of talent, but I guess it would have ruined the whole Stepford Wives / Picnic at Hanging Rock / Virgin Suicides vibe they wanted.
Stephen Holt says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 4:59pm
Who ARE these people? I guess they thought Carey was going to win the Oscar…
But it’s white-ness is embarassing…
notenoughtime says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:06pm
Sasha,
This site should be renamed “Lets All Bitch About Everything”. I challenge you to start a posting that people can’t complain about.
Cute pic. Would be nice to see more color than white, but glad to see Amanda Seyfried on the pic.
JackSparrowJohnnyDeppJMBarrie says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:07pm
I love that cover. Wouldn’t mind if they added some color like the beautiful, sexy Zoe Saldana, and would have liked to see Marion Cotillard and Melanie Laurent in a sexy position together.
Let’s not forget that Gabby Sidibe (who gives a great debut perf. in Precious) is morbidly obese. That’s not mean or overdoing it but just plain as fact.
bambi says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:08pm
#33 “So why is Kristen Stewart on the front cover? I don’t get it.”
Because she was great in Adventureland, Speak among other things and is getting raves for Runaways.
#35 “Bambi, to be honest, your snark is really cheap”
Of course it is. Pinto doesn`t deserve a snark in the higher league than her own,duh! And like I said, lets see that she is good in those movies first and than we can talk New Hollywood.
As for Woody`s esteem being expensive, puhlease, his muse is Scar-Jo, the most sedating and sleepwalking actress that is.
chelseamanhattan says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:32pm
Why do some people see everything in black and white???? Why is having no black woman on the cover that important?? Does that mean they do not exist? No way! Doesnt it occur to you that their cover is all about their target audience? If you dont like the cover, you dont buy the magazine. That’s it! Does everything have to be politically correct? If they put a black actress on their cover, then some people would say “there is no asian” or “no hispanic”. Some people just see race wherever they look!
chelseamanhattan says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:36pm
I cant see Gabbi being on the cover of those big-shot magazines…. Would you cast her as one of the tap dancers for a Broadway show? No. She is not a cover girl material for those fancy magazines..That’s business
Stephen Holt says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:36pm
Could somebody please lay out who these people are? I mean, I see Kristen Stewart next to Carey Mulligan, but I don’t know who the blonde on the front cover section is. Is that Amanda Syefriend(sp?) next to Carey? And I recognize Anna Kendrick alllll the way over on the end, practically, next to the last, but who those others are is a mystery to me…
Youth wants to know…
lovespike says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:39pm
This cover is HOLLYWOOD this is the industry take it or leave it. How many young actresses of color do you guys know of that get quality roles? I think spreads like this need to be seen to remind us that not that much has changed. How many roles has Keke Palmer, Jurnee Smollett, Shareka Epps gotten after having being critically praised for their performances;next to none. Nature of the beast
Afrika is back bishes says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:41pm
“Aren’t you tired of this stupid dehumilating political correctness? Personally, I don’t want to see Gabourey Sidibe on the cover of Vanity Fair.”
- Th Reader
Well excuse me winner of the most unoriginal username award. In this global community, some of us are not white. So excuse us if we demand to see people who look like us on the cover of magazines.
molly says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:41pm
Well it’s not the Oscar issue, it’s the Young Hollywood issue, so I get no Bigelow or Mo’Nique… the photo itself is really very beautiful, but I do think they really should have gone for some diversity. I would say Zoe, but she was on the Young Hollywood cover one or two years ago… VF was actually ahead of the game on that one.
What about someone like Margarita Levieva (Adventureland), Rashida Jones (too old? still gorgeous..) Jennifer Hudson (girl can’t act for shit, but she certainly seems to be getting places), Keke Palmer, etc?
But really, for all of you saying “Who is Emma Stone OMGWTF?!?!?” You’ve obviously missed out on a couple of the better comedies (and her brilliance in them) of the past few years, Superbad and Zombieland.
chelseamanhattan says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:49pm
Afrika,
you know that Gabby’s problem is not being black. It is about being obese. And people do not buy magazines to look at obese people’s pictures. They wouldnt bring a lot of business to those magazines. This is why we dont see them on the covers. Unfortunately that’s the case. Personally, I dont enjoy looking at Gabby’s pictures. I just feel sorry when i see her pictures. She is a young fun girl full of life.and she has a pretty face too. But now it is a fact that being an obese causes so many health problems that i feel sorry for her. And a cover should make people feel good so they buy those magazines! This is why!
Afrika is back bishes says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:50pm
“Scar-Jo, the most sedating and sleepwalking actress that is.” – Bambi
Did you just come for Scar Jo? Oh helllllllllllll no.
I’m sorry to break it to you Bams but Scarlet is an amazing actress. Her subtle yet powerful performance in girl with a pearl earring still makes me shiver till this day. She is quirky, unique, pretty and has her own thing going on. Some people like you don’t get her, but A LOT OF PEOPLE like me do. I rarely connect with movie characters but there’s something about Scarlet Jo’s acting that just makes me profoundly attached to her characters. A good example is Lost in Translation. This might sound weird but I am most attached to her character in In Good Company. Being someone who has traveled a lot for school, I felt like her character’s experience in NYU was somewhat telling my own story. Her acting is authentic and her characters feel like people I know in real world. Call me weird but to me, she was the best thing about Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Penelope cruz’s over the top rambling did nothing for me (but you already knew that didn’t u? lol)
She is also an amazing singer. While her solo album sucked, she sounds exquisite on Pete Yorn’s new album
*inserts headphone and starts listening to “relator”*
chelseamanhattan says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:54pm
Afrika,
I agree . Scarlet can be quite good in movies. I think her performance needs some direction. If she gets it then outcome is not bad.By the way, she is very sexy in my gay opinion!!! I dont know why I find three women very sexy: Scarlett Johansson, Vanessa Williams and Penelope Cruz (i know you are not happy with this!)….
filmfemme says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:56pm
If editors of V and the freakin’ NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE can put Gabby Sidibe on their covers, then so can Vanity Fair. Period.
And the fact that she’s the one omission that almost everyone is pointing out (even more than overhyped Zoe Saldana), then we ALL know what is going on.
notenoughtime says:
Monday, February 1, 2010 at 5:56pm
“Well excuse me winner of the most unoriginal username award.”
Now come on Afrika. I think you used the term “Bollocks” in an earlier posting when referring to Bullock. How unoriginal is that? You can do better than that with your insults. I believe in you.