Rolling Stone Responds to Boston Bomber Cover Controversy
Rolling Stone has defended its controversial cover of suspected Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, saying that it "falls within the traditions of journalism."
Drugstore chains CVS and Walgreen have pulled pull the magazine from their shelves, amid complaints that it glamorizes the bomber.
In a note appearing on the online version of Janet Reitman's cover story, titled "Jahar's World," the editors also expressed sympathy for the victims of the bombing, before going on to cite "Rolling Stone's long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day."
Also read: CVS, Walgreens Won't Sell Rolling Stone's Boston Bomber Cover
The statement does not specifically address the cover art, which was what outraged most people (indeed, the backlash started Tuesday night, before the full article was even published online).
Tsarnaev is charged with carrying out the April 15 Boston bombings and ensuing manhunt that left four dead and hundreds injured. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Neither Rolling Stone nor Reitman have responded to Wrap requests for comment.
The statement reads in full:
"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."
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