ESPN features lesbian anthem-kneeler and girlfriend on cover of unsavory 'Body Issue'
Among all of ESPN’s faults, few are more egregious and self-destructive than its incessant attempts to inject politics into sports.
It’s the reason the 6 p.m. “SportsCenter” has seen improved ratings since the network pulled the plug on the politically and racially charged “SC6” experiment.
It’s the reason so many cable subscribers are ditching the pricey ESPN package and finding different avenues of following their favorite teams.
And it’s the reason the “woke” morning show “Get Up!” has been such an unmitigated ratings disaster.
You’d think ESPN would look at the tangible evidence mounting against its publicized biases and stick to sports.
You’d think wrong. If anything, the company seems to be doubling down on every possible critique against it.
A big flash point for ESPN occurred during the 2015 ESPY Awards when Caitlyn, formerly Bruce, Jenner won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for no reason other than transitioning from man to woman. Even some people who support transgenderism were upset with the award, believing that 19-year-old cancer victim Lauren Hill was a more viable candidate. Hill died in April 2015, but after accomplishing her dream of scoring a basket in a game.
Since then, ESPN has seemingly grabbed the torch of being a bastion of social justice and equal rights.
In fact, the company is so for the empowerment of women that each year it uses images of naked women for profit.
While ESPN The Magazine’s annual “Body Issue,” which features nude photoshoots with various athletes, has several variant covers, none this year is getting more attention than the cover featuring WNBA star Sue Bird and U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe posing together.
According to ABC News, Rapinoe and Bird are the first LGBT couple to be featured in the “Body Issue.”
“It’s pretty amazing to think about [being on the cover], especially in the times we’re in,” Rapinhoe told ESPN. “Just think of how far we’ve come, but also the current climate. Not only are we female athletes, but we’re dating as well. It’s kind of bad-ass.”
For the many people who say they have no problem with gay people but just don’t like people’s sexuality being shoved in their faces, this type of magazine cover is exactly what they are complaining about.
Most people who get ESPN The Magazine want to read sports journalism, not look at borderline softcore pornography. While it’s up for debate whether the “Body Issue” or Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue is smuttier, at least SI doesn’t try to hide behind the guise of “empowerment.” (Well, it did this year when, in the wake of the “#MeToo” movement, it included an “In Her Own Words” section featuring nude photos of women with writing on their skin to “illustrate and give voice to the diversity of the women that we feature in our magazine, to make the statement that they are more than just a beautiful face.”)
Making matters worse are the not-so-subtle politics of ESPN’s “Body Issue.”
Rapinoe made headlines for kneeling during the national anthem while representing the United States as a member of Team USA in several soccer matches.
“I haven’t experienced over-policing, racial profiling, police brutality or the sight of a family member’s body lying dead in the street,” she explained. “But I cannot stand idly by while there are people in this country who have had to deal with that kind of heartache.”
Another gay athlete featured in the “Body Issue,” U.S. figure skater Adam Rippon, received quite a bit of attention during the Winter Olympics for his seemingly unprovoked attacks on Vice President Mike Pence. Rippon felt that Pence was an enemy of gay people.
The images in question can all be viewed on ESPN. The Western Journal chose not to reprint the images for this article.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
