'Fire everyone involved': Vogue slammed for sidelining Usher on his own Super Bowl cover with white model front and center
In January 2024, as anticipation mounted for Usher's Super Bowl LVIII halftime performance, the R&B icon made headlines—not just for his career milestone, but for the controversy surrounding his first-ever Vogue cover.
What should've been a triumphant solo spotlight for a singer with three decades of influence turned into a firestorm over artistic choices that many fans called 'disrespectful' and 'tone-deaf.'
Usher landed Vogue cover—but shares the spotlight unexpectedly
Vogue revealed its Winter 2024 Digital cover on January 17, 2024 featuring Usher alongside supermodel Carolyn Murphy and a youth football team. While the feature celebrated Usher's 30-year career and his upcoming Super Bowl show, the decision to position him behind Murphy raised eyebrows.
'For Vogue's Winter 2024 Digital issue, Usher discusses his 30-year career, his lifelong love of fashion, and what fans can expect at halftime next month,' the magazine shared on Instagram.
Murphy, who posted additional shots from the shoot, praised Usher as 'a leading man in every sense.' But many online were baffled by why the Grammy-winning artist wasn't front and center on his own cover—especially when the piece was meant to honor his legacy and upcoming historic performance.
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Fans called out Vogue for sidelining Usher on his own big moment
Social media erupted almost instantly. An user, @thatsoleelee wrote, 'A Vogue cover with Usher should have, and easily could have been, iconic. Instead, you've made it unfortunate. No worries though. A Black publication will give us what we need.' Another user @JzonAzari wrote, 'There were multiple angles for football related covers and this was the choice? Back to the drawing board for more ideas because, no.'
Fans thrashing Vogue (SS via Twitter)
Another user @EbtheCeleb wrote, 'The CD needs to be fired.
This is lazy and as fashionable as Usher is why was this the creative choice for him not to showcase fashion on the cover of a fashion magazine. Literally fire everyone involved.'
Others drew parallels to LeBron James's 2008 Vogue cover with Gisele Bündchen—another instance critics felt played into problematic racial optics.
Despite the noise, Usher remained focused on his mission for the halftime show. 'This night was specifically curated in my mind to have R&B take the main stage,' he told Vogue. 'Not just R&B music, but R&B performance, R&B connection, R&B spirit.'
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While the performance eventually proved to be a cultural celebration, this cover moment remains a controversial chapter in how Black artistry is visually honored—even in moments of career-defining excellence.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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