Cringe-Worthy Magazine Covers That Will Make You Uncomfortable

The age-old saying, don’t judge a book by its cover, does not hold when it comes to magazines. So periodicals choose to put a known face on the front to grab the attention and entice new readers.

Sarah Jessica Parker has been a fashion icon for decades, and almost many women around the globe draw inspiration from the actress. Unfortunately, she grabbed eyeballs for the wrong reasons when she became the face of one of ‘Harper’s Bazaar’s’ editions.

2008 was a critical year for the American political system as two of the strongest candidates stood for the presidential election. Both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton enjoyed a massive fan following, and any article about them drew attention.

Appearing on magazine covers is a milestone in any celebrity’s career. So when the Australian boy band ‘5 Seconds of Summer’ appeared as the face of the ‘Rolling Stone’ periodical, things did not turn for the better. Instead, the band members became a subject of criticism from many people, including the fans of ‘5SOS’.

Yes, you read the headline right, but we know it didn’t mean to convey the message that Rachael Ray has been cooking her family and dog. Unfortunately, no one proofread the statement before publishing it on the cover. A few missing commas ended up portraying Rachael as a cannibal.

Who does not love a nice success story? A central character turning all odds in his favor and eventually making it big is something that gives all of us some hope and will to do something.

It’s funny to witness what brands can do to sell their product. When it comes to magazines, one way of selling their copies is to get a big celebrity to pose for their cover. When Seventeen decided to feature Meghan Trainor on its cover, the team also took other bold decisions which did not sit well with the readers.

A lot of people are familiar with Runner’s World magazine. While many enjoy the content of the magazine, there are some people who are only here for the covers as the magazine has a reputation for awkward cover photos.

If anyone wants to keep themselves updated on the current global issues, then buying a copy of Newsweek is their best bet. The magazine attempts to have an issue on every single problem possible, and sometimes their efforts turn out to be completely outlandish.

The whole world was taken by storm when the boyband One Direction rose to popularity. Millions of people became their die-hard fans and were soon left heartbroken when one of the members, Zayn Malik, left the band.

Magazines that cover a wide range of topics often run into one kind of problem: the challenge of selecting what should appear on the front page and where. As a result, they sometimes come up with hilarious front cover designs that make us wonder what exactly they are thinking.

While Interview is a great name in the media world, it sometimes does a poor job of what it represents. The magazine has interviewed many celebrities in the entertainment industry and is known for its focus on those who possess great artistry and creativity.

Old age is a great thing. We appreciate anyone that reaches the 100 years milestones and would do anything to celebrate their life’s achievement. That was what Peoples magazine was trying to do for Betty White. They interviewed her specially and got her to talk extensively about her life’s work.

Priyanka Chopra is one of the most famous actresses in the world. Men’s magazine Maxim once featured her on its front cover and nobody batted an eyelid. What got people’s attention, though, was the fact that in the picture, the actress’ armpits were totally Photoshopped out. To most people and Chopra herself, that was very awkward.

Hello magazine began publication in the late ’80s. A derivative of its Spanish counterpart, ¡Hola!, it first became a household name in the UK but is now widely read on the global front. One of the things they brag about is their ability to cover historic events which include news about the royal family.

In an uncomfortable GQ cover, Stephen Colbert seems to have made himself the “Face of America” by holding a miniature version of himself with an awkward expression. The cover’s caption, “Who’s your daddy now, America?” adds to the cringe factor.

As virtual reality evolves into an increasingly immersive experience, Facebook’s “metaverse” and video games are leading the way. The media is now discussing the implications this could have on our future.

If you’re familiar with Indian pop culture and news, chances are you’ve heard of Filmfare – one of the most widely read entertainment magazines around. However, one of their covers caused quite a controversy. They left the usual celebrity gossip and showcased something straight out of fiction: a cisgender male pregnancy.

Bloomberg Businessweek, previously known as Businessweek is a well-respected magazine that has been in circulation for nearly a century. However, they could not escape criticism when the person responsible for this cover completely missed the mark maybe in an attempt to be humorous.

Rolling Stone, a reputable publication, is expected to be thorough in their work before publishing. However, they seemed to have missed a crucial detail in one instance.

The Time magazine cover featuring Meghan and Harry as two of the most influential people of 2021 did not come without controversy. While the piece talked about their humanitarian works, the internet focused on the lack of authenticity and the weird pose in the image.

There’s something seriously off about this cover of InStyle featuring Carrie Underwood. At first glance, she looks stunning, but a closer inspection reveals a strange detail – one of her wrists is missing.

Oops! magazine had their oops moment when they dropped their magazines with a creepily altered Taylor Swift on the cover. The editors changed her eye color and airbrushed the original picture, hoping no one would notice, but you can’t fool keen-eyed swifties!

When Time dropped this cover of a mother breastfeeding her son, it sparked a flurry of debate and discussion. Many considered it inappropriate to feature a breastfeeding mother on the cover of a widely-read publication, while others opined that public breastfeeding should be normalized.

A magazine like Doll Reader was the last place people expected to see celebrity fitness trainer Richard Simmons. As soon as it hit the stands, readers pointed out how the cover gave them the creeps.

Der Spiegel, a widely-read German magazine, intended to publish a feature on Queen Elizabeth II. The cover, however, overshadowed the story due to an unfortunate linguistic mishap.

In 2014, Pharrell Williams faced backlash for wearing a Native American headdress on Elle UK’s cover and was accused of cultural appropriation. The headdress holds significant meaning for indigenous tribes, only to be worn by respected leaders and warriors so Pharrell’s misuse was seen as disrespectful.

Newsweek stirred controversy with their 2012 presidential election cover for labeling Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney a “wimp” and questioning his suitability for the presidency. The story highlighted Romney’s evasion of the press, concealed tax returns, and apparent apprehension toward his party’s base.

Newsweek’s 2009 cover showcasing Sarah Palin in bike shorts, sourced from a previous fitness photoshoot, sparked controversy. The former Vice Presidential candidate expressed her displeasure with the publication’s choice, pointing out that the original Runner’s World profile centered on health and fitness.

Amidst the OJ Simpson trial frenzy, Time and Newsweek published cover stories displaying the notorious ex-football star and actor-turned-murder suspect’s mugshot.