ReggieGate: How Essence Managed to Piss Off Its Audience
As many of you know by now, Reggie Bush is front and center of Essence Magazine next month, which just so happens to be their very first “Black Men, Love & Relationships” issue. So why, the outraged are asking, would Essence spotlight a Black man who has allegedly, time and again, proven that he prefers love & relationships with non-Black women? Is this a move to spark a little controversy for the sake of sales, or are there more Black women than we thought, who love themselves some Reggie? Either way, why is this an issue that polarizes so many women in our community?
Was Essence in the wrong for featuring Reggie Bush on the cover of its upcoming issue? According to a poll on Black Voices, 40% said yes – which means the majority of those who chose to vote think there was nothing inappropriate about the ripped running back gracing the cover. It is this split that speaks to the love/hate sentiments sistas seem to have for the true reason for notoriety, his long-term relationship with celebutante Kim Kardashian. On the one hand you’ve got women who genuinely dig Kim, sex tape and all – there are those who could care less about the glitzy reality star – and on the other end of the spectrum appears to be those with an intense aversion for the self proclaimed entrepreneur, from everything to her pornographic beginnings to her romantic ties to one of 10 of the sexiest men we’ve ever seen.
In other words, there is no consensus about Kim Kardashian and her reputation among Black women which makes any African American publication a target for major criticism when covering anything remotely related to her. Case in point, Clutch’s interview with Kardashian in May 2009. Much like the fiery debates seen on Essence.com, our readers expressed their opinions on the celeb including: Whether her Armenian heritage makes it “ok” for her to date Reggie (the ‘is she a woman of color?’ debate); Having a big booty does not make her “down”; Criticism of her lack of talent – with defenders of the Kardashian name interspersed throughout.
The common theme of grievances with Kim K. reflects the cruel spirit of inequality as experienced by most Black women in America: Kim Kardashian is the White girl who Black men adore, despite her perceived shortcomings and scandalous history. Countless pop site comments on Kardashian reveal that many believe she has exploited Black women to get where she is and has done so by benefiting from deeds that would’ve rendered a sista’s career DOA (maybe with the exception of Karrine Steffans). Having said that, it’s no wonder some Black women have an issue with Mr. Kardashian.
Back to Reggie
The byline for the upcoming issue reads:
“Reggie Bush. Idris Elba. Lance Gross. LL Cool J. Need we say more? ESSENCE’s first “Black Men, Love and Relationships” issue features its top 10 countdown of the sexiest men in sports, music and Hollywood. Then ESSENCE senior editor Jeannine Amber, channeling her inner bad girl, spins ten naughty tales starring some of our favorite men to curl up with–if only in our minds!”
So to the aforementioned question, why choose Reggie as the cover man, as opposed to Lance Gross or Sir Idris? Despite his penchant for White gals, Reggie is quite a good looking fella who many women of all backgrounds would like to cuddle up with – if only in their minds. But women aren’t quite as visual as our testosterone-laden counterparts. A lot of us need a little more than just good looks to get our juices flowing, so naturally it’s a bit of a challenge for some to get excited about a Black guy with a reputation for preferring the company of non-Black women. However, there are those of us who are unaffected by his partiality and openly welcome an opportunity to gaze at shots of his rippled manliness.
Bush’s good looks may be undeniable, but his exposure to pop culture has come not by way of his performance as running back for the New Orleans Saints, but his relationship with Kim Kardashian. Their bond also highlights the massive number or Black entertainers and athletes who seem to exclusively date and marry non-Black women – bringing up the issue of self-hate and the marginalization of Black Women.
Reg, Essence & The Well-being of Black Women
According to women across the Net, Essence’s choice in cover imagery is cause for confusion, and discussion, but there is danger in invalidating opinions on either side of the debate, and the hazard increases when the frustration Black women feel becomes directed towards one another. Let’s face facts. There will always be a handful of brothas out there whose mental inadequacies prevent them from finding beauty within their own culture, so the question we must ask ourselves is: What is the best possible way to deal with that fact? It appears as though Essence chose to ignore it, how about you?
72 Comments – Add Yours
Latest Articles
Most Popular This Week
Recent Comments
-
Candy 1 on
Watch: ‘Two Gay Guys In A Car,’ A Hilarious Web Series About, Well, Two Gay Guys In A Car
Nope.
-
So fed up on
Mother Pleads Guilty to Stealing Son’s Education and Gets 12 Years In Prison, Is It Fair?
I don't feel she stole anything. She is a black woman that is her crime.
-
LMO85 on
On Plate Fixing and Other Wifely Duties
What planet are some of you people living on with these comments?! Seriously, you knew that comment and weak a.s.s "threat" was tired when...
-
Alexandra on
Bravo! 3 African-Americans Earn Doctorates In Chemistry, Set Univ. of Mississippi Record
Bravo! Agreed with the last paragraph all the way, they're making records. I'm happy for them.
people are upset about this, but not about the fact that every issue of Essence is the same. i.e. How to get, keep or satisfy your man, Make that booty (or thighs, hips, etc) bootielicious, Create your best life ever, and get your financial house in order. EVERY SINGLE ISSUE OF ESSENCE IS THE SAME!!!! Frankly I think the magazine has become boring, but hey, maybe they know it and this is why we are all here talking about Reggiegate 2010. Editors of essence in a meeting… “Hey, lets put a fine looking mildly controversial man on the cover and call it the first ever black men love relationships issue (even though it is not) instead of coming up with new and different story ideas!!!” OK… Print!!!!
This is why I love clutch, you all have new and interesting articles, you are what essence and honey (back in the day) use to be. Thank GOD for Clutch!!!!!!
Am I looking at this cover wrong? I am thinking that his picture is tied to “Live your fantasy…10 of the Sexiest Men” headline where his name is mentioned. And if I am reading right, then Reggie looks real good on this cover as nothing else but eye candy to fit the title.
The “Love & Relationships” title probably has nothing to do with him so I am not sure why we are questioning his dating history.
On another note, if we were told we could not date outside our race, we’d be marching in the streets.
CLUTCH PRODUCES SOME GREAT ARTICLES, BUT THESE PRE-OBAMA, RACE WAR-ESQUE ARTICLES ARE NOT CLEVER, ENGAGING, OR TIMELY IN ANY WAY.
RECENT PIECES LIKE THE ONE ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES HAVE BEEN GOOD. THEY HAVE APPROACHED TOPICS THAT CONCERN BLACK WOMEN WELL.
SIMPLE, BASE, POINTLESS ARTICLES ON WHY “SISTAS” HATE BLACK MEN WHO CHASE CHUBBY WHITE GIRLS (“SISTA BIG BONES”) OR WHY “SISTAS” DISLIKE REGGIE BUSH ARE BORDERLINE MORONIC. THESE EXPLORATIONS OF RACE RELATIONS ARE OFTEN POOR, PERHAPS EVEN STEREOTYPICAL. THEY ARE BASED ON THE STEREOTYPE THAT BLACK WOMEN HATE BLACK MEN THAT DATE OUTSIDE OF THE RACE. IT IS 2009; THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT CASE. JUDGING FROM THE COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE AND THOSE ON OTHERS, THESE POORLY RESEARCHED ARTICLES ARE NOT PERTINENT TO BLACK WOMEN AT ALL.
THUS, CLUTCH YOU CERTAINLY HAVE ARTICLES THAT ARE GEMS ON YOUR WEBSITE, BUT MANY ARE BASE, STEREOTYPICAL, POORLY-RESEARCHED EXPLORATIONS OF RACE. SIMPLY PUT, YOU NEED TO STEP YOUR GAME UP.
Hi K.O. – thanks for your comment. We are constantly growing and trying to improve each issue. Your comment and opinion means a lot to us.
Best,
Dede
This is the kinda of SH*T that makes a brother grow ill. Why the hell do bloggers owe anyone like KO an explanation for what they choose to write, and why the hell do I keep coming to this site and reading up on ridiculous comments like this that attack the writers (MS. OBERCAM) for exploring a topic that you could firmly choose to look in the other direction of if it was an issue to you.
Here’s the deal since it seems as if people have forgotten etiquette in this POST OBAMA phase of life. The content on sights like Clutch is not what makes me ill, because free expression gives writers a platform to take their writing skills and give readers something to ponder. It’s the number of people who skate past the topic to attack the sender, when what should be discussed is the issue at hand, and not the messenger.
Most writers are “Starving artists” per se’ so they are taking their personal time to give us something to ponder and/or bicker about.
A lot of times the subjects they write about are not even things they hold personal, but the ideas or topics they think their readers will be attracted to you.
My point is, it takes more courage to write an article, than it does to sit behind a desk (when you’re supposed to be working) and condemn writers for not exploring topics YOU want to be considered.
Although I’m a man, I dig this sight because they mix it up from time to time, and for every article that turns my eye, I’m blessed with one that brings favor.
CLUTCH, write a piece on how blog lovers could learn to be more respectful to the bloggers. Nobody here is a hollywood star, and yall are all quick to diss them for wearing a sh**y outfit, so when you throw dirt, it likely hits their face.
If you want to talk about what CONCERNS BLACK WOMEN, consider having respect for them when you’re getting ready to drop a comment.
AND last thing, @ Clutch
Keep mixing up the madness. IT WORKS, whether these sensitive, overly dramatic folks want to admit it.
When the natural/permed hair articles were coming every week, they were mad. When the IR articles were happening every other week, BECKY, the IR DATING TO SAVE THE WORLD, SBB, TIGER, etc, they were mad. When the Beyonce, Chris brown, rihanna, articles were coming every other week, they were mad. When the Satanic articles came every week, they were mad.
What are you guys supposed to do? Keep talking about how to get a man? Yeah, okay.
It’s when your writers mix it up, and throw in the wild card that makes me stay interested.
IF YOU DON’T, well then you just became the new essence: BORING.
Don’t defend yourself for anyone. You/your writers did nothing wrong.
Now I’ll leave you women to argue amongst yourselves, cause there’s no pleasing any of yall! Dueces!
Here we go…Maybe next time you can spare us your bullshit comments that sound like some retarded fake ass militant filth. I hope they delete you. You sound disturbed and have no place among Clutchettes.
My previous comment is directed at “K.O.” And any weakling like that who likes to spread negative energy on sites they have no place visiting;)
Whoever has a problem with the cover because of who he is dating can promptly get over it. Who he chooses to be with ain’t got diddly to do with you or your insecurities, so put on your big girl panties and deal. Come on now, folks can date/love whoever they choose, any problem you have with it is yours alone. And as much as you may not want to admit it — the cover is yummyful!
Also, when it comes to other celebs they could have opted for — like Lance Gross or Idris Elba — maybe they wanted to spice it up a bit and do something different. I mean, I’m pretty sure Idris has been on the cover before, and Lance’s lady Eva definitely has been. Plus, there’s nothing like a lil’ controversy to get people talking.
I did not know that this was a black women website, my bad, I have been writing on here like it was for both men and women when it is not evidently.
I mean to have the guts to call up Essence because it is doing some thing wrong when they are a rival magazine is brave, simply because it willl invite others to ask for the motive.
I just loved the pre obama comment, but you know that Kim kardishan is not really that white, in certain places they might refer to her as black or be seen as a minority.
I did not know that there are strong feeling about Reggie, given that I live in England and inter-racial relationships could out number black and black relations.
I widh to hear what essence has to say.
What a thoughtful article. No truer words were written Clutch…. on point journalism
I dont kno why everyones thinking about kim and reggie anyways i mean why should it matter if he dates a so called “white chick” or not?? i mean we as african americans continue to fight for equal rights for all and yet we still worry about one of our own dating someone out the race?? its pretty hypocritical if you ask me for a race such as our own to dislike someone or disown them for dating outside the race i bet if it was one of us who reggie was dating we would be standing up for her even if she was a slut like kim or not this makes me laugh at some of our ignorance as humans who are so judgmental towards the unimportant
“There will always be a handful of brothas out there whose mental inadequacies prevent them from finding beauty within their own culture” …
So now you are mentally inadequate if you fall in love outside of your race? This kind of banter echoes Germany circa 1940 when you had to be suicidal to consider dating outside your “pure” race. I have a family that is made up of six nationalities, I treasure the fact that someone in my family put aside the fear of the other to create generations who will not be defined by the color of their skin.
That said, RB looks hot on the cover and that is the point of him making it there – to entice ladies (both haters and lovers) to open the cover of the magazine. And trust, this issue of Essence will be picked up by a number of not-so-black girls – more sales.
I think black women should save their strong feelings and passion for bigger and better things and Reggie Bush on the cover is not bigger or better. I’m really disappointed in Essence (especially last 6 years are so). It’s a magazine for black women and black women should be at the center of it. To be truthful I think it should rare that a man is on the front cover. I could understand Sister 2 Sister or another black publication but Essence?
Ok, so I’ve been visiting Clutch for a few years now and not commenting but, today something about the backlash in this comments section has propelled me to speak up. CLUTCH, KEEP THE ARTICLES COMING! Journalism is an art form that is meant to force dialect and debate and that’s definitely what these articles do weekly!
I know a lot of black women who’ll say they don’t have a problem with interracial dating but, somewhere in our hearts a lot of us struggle to supress the deeper rooted effects interracial dating plays in our subconscious given the history of our race. Reality is, the majority of us black women want to marry black men, so of course us Essence readers don’t want to be reminded of Reggie’s interracial relationship as it can spark and deepen issues of insecurity and abandonment. Does that sound weak and immature? So what! Alot of us don’t have the guts to admit these natural feelings of doubt and insecurity in fear of being viewed as “the angry black woman”. Because no one wants to be labeled as that!
Clutch writers aren’t making these stories up you know. They are black women just like us who aren’t afraid to actually discuss every week what a lot of us are unhealthily internalizing or talking to our best girlfriends about once we’re out the office. If you cant bare to face it then simply don’t comment because you’re funking up the experience between the rest of us who aren’t afraid to face our modern cultural skeletons. This is the world we live in, deal with it.
I myself date across color lines. However, I think this is VERY stupid of Essence. You don’t see dogs on the cover of Cat Fancy magazine and none of us Black women are going to be on the cover of Armenia Weekly, so why would you put a man who has a past and current inclination toward women who are not your target audience. Its like when Shape or Self put Kelly Clarkson on the cover when Ms. Clarkson is clearly not someone who is preaching the gospel of good health and constant workouts that the magazine focuses on.
Reggie and people can date whomever they want, but as a business move this was not good for Essence (my hypothesis, we shall see when the next issue comes out how well this did).
I also think this sends out some wrong subliminal messages. I stopped checking for people who weren’t checking for me along time ago, Essence needs to do the same and support their readers. I think it is even more insulting that they have several men in the issue who are currently in relationships with Black women.
I bet Essence would not have the balls to do a cover story with Reggie and other Black male public figures that read “Black Men and why they repeatedly date Non-Black Women.”
AMEN!!!!
Right on, Ms. Hill! I was nodding in agreement with each and every comment you posted. Some women don’t take offense of having Bush as the cover model, but I do. I’m not hating on Bush, he has the right to be with whomever he chooses. I’m knocking Essence for choosing someone who doesn’t fit Essence’s target demographic.
Note to Essence: When are you going to have the sexy Robin Thicke on your cover?
And another thing…I will get over this the day Essence has a non-Black man on the cover professing his love for Sistas.
[...] about it. Would you want those same guidelines and restrictions placed on you? I wouldn’t. Check out Clutch’s Response To Essence’s Cover Pass This On. You Know You Want [...]
Personal choice? Oh please. Since when is systemic racism, white supremacy, and internalized racism a preference or personal choice. I am so tired of Black women authors and so called journalists who want to teach us a lesson by trying to school us on what it means to be a bitter black woman. Is it bitter to say that this man, or any other Black man, or many other Black men have an institutionalized preference for all things lily. Kim is just as institutionalized as Reggie. Beauty is not objective, nor is it universal. It is very social. And in this society we laud all things white, light, bright, long hair and other things that are not as biologically possible for Black women with out ALOT of work, plastic surgery and skin whitening. So that makes me bitter? No that makes me stereotyped and it makes me less desired because of this pseudo notion that these women are any more beautiful than me or any other woman of any other race. Whether Kim IS white or thinks she’s white or whatever-I could care less. She fits the phenotype and I bet Reggie didn’t ask her identity no more than Kobe’s self-hating butt asked Vanessa. And why would some Black women keep exploiting other Black women and saying that they have attitude problems for commenting on the evident? Really? We are still stereotyping one another in 2010. Please get a grip. The so-called Black women on here commenting and saying that “I could care less, he’s not hurting me.” And, he isn’t hurting any other Black woman on here either-that is NOT the point. The point is, we DO NOT live in a vacuum and I am so OVER the projection. I go to Essence because I felt like the represented ME as a Black woman. Put Reggie on People, and call it Black LOVE and hey, I might by it. But I subscribe to Essence and as a reader and subscriber I don’t want that on my cover. I expected more from them, and obviously was expecting to much.
I WILL NOT be subscribing further and whomever approved that cover should be FIRED.You are supposed to know your audience and Denzel is your audience, Barack Obama is your audience-Reggie Bush is NOT.
my opinion is that they did it on purpose, to be honest I don’t really care, all I know is that I did not receive that issue and I can’t wait to get it
concerning Idris my sexy man, he was on the cover in august 2009
If I had the money and the support I would start a black magazine because we don’t have a lot, may of our reduced choices have closed doors, the most interesting for debates are on line ( clutch anyone ;:) but for newstands magazines I refer myself to Essence and Ebony rather than People or any white brainwashing magazines. Of course I’m afraid that Essence’s partnership with cnn as an example will biase their articles but still we don’t have a lot of options, as long as they don’t cross the borders, I will renew my subscription
Peace and let’s pray for Haiti
Ms Hill How are you? in the past like few years ago, Esssence has done a list of few white men that we heart, to name a few we had Steven Spielbreg and Robert Deniro, I’m too radical to see a white man on Esssence cover, have you seen any of our beautiful sisters on GQ yeah maybe on GQ but still…. it was not Erikah or Jill ….
It’s funny to me how we get so worked up about these men who choose to date non-black women. I can’t even exclude myself, because I’ve definitely thrown shade and side eyes to those mixed couples on the train like the rest of us….
BUT, I pose this question to you – if Essence had decided to put up a picture of Robin Thicke in reference to his relationship with Paula Patton…would it still be so controversial? Would black women be outraged? It forces me to ponder whether this is really a race issue or if we women are just bitter because Reggie is rich and FINE and not with one of us…
I feel that we are being a bit hard on the situation. People love who they love. Who are we to judge her skill level. It is about loving ourselves and what we put out in the world. There are interracial relationships on both sides. I know a lot of black men that say that most black women are angry and want to run things. That we tend to let things rise to another level. I think as black women we need to focus on ourselves and learn to love who we are and things will get better and maybe we need to see how things look outside of our racial barrier.
I’m counting down to the day Essence goes out of business. Or the current owners realize it was a poor investment, and sell it off to someone else. The possibilities are endless.
Through this article, I kept thinking, “Who is Reggie Bush?” I’ve seen him with the Kim K. person, but I don’t get the big fuss over the two. He’s too dark for my taste, and I’ve known much better looking men. He’s not all that. There are many before and after pictures of Kim K. – with butt and breasts and without. She’s a result of plastic surgery. She’s entitled.
Essence is trying to be Cosmo in black face paint, but at least Cosmo looks out for its white women. The same cannot be said of that rag.
Essence is now owned by Time Warner magazine. While the writers and editors are Africana, they must still serve the interests of the money rollers. I once dreamed of writing for Essence when everyday folk were the main feature and not celebrities whose lives are publicized daily and offer little life lessons.
Essence is losing a bit of its Essence. This is not even about Reggie Bush.