GQ Puts Cynthia Erivo on Its “Men of the Year” Cover

by

GQ’s latest Men of the Year issue features Cynthia Erivo on the cover, sparking debate online. Many are questioning why an actress was chosen for a magazine dedicated to celebrating men’s accomplishments.

Cynthia Erivo graces the cover of GQ’s Men of the Year issue.

📸: Campbell Addy

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 13, 2025

The recent Men of the Year magazine cover featuring Cynthia Erivo has sparked a lot of online debate, drawing more attention to the controversy than to the magazine’s articles.

A Pattern of PR Decisions That Prioritize Buzz Over Clarity

This situation is part of a growing pattern in entertainment: create something controversial to get people talking, and use the resulting confusion to boost online activity. It seems like GQ’s choice wasn’t really about celebrating accomplished men, but about making something designed to go viral on social media.

Cynthia Erivo is a wonderfully gifted performer, but featuring her on a ‘Men of the Year’ cover is confusing. The magazine traditionally celebrates men, and changing that without saying why weakens the meaning of the honor.

Erivo’s History of Clashing with Fans

Cynthia Erivo has faced public criticism before. Since becoming well-known, she’s often been at the center of online discussions, frequently sparked by her interactions with fans.

A great example of this happened during the promotion of the movie Wicked last year. After the official movie poster was released, a fan made a small change to it, making it look more like the famous artwork from the Broadway show. They lowered the brim of the character’s hat and darkened the shadows around her eyes, mirroring the original image of Elphaba.

I have to say, the change wasn’t meant to be hurtful at all. It wasn’t some robotic creation, and it definitely wasn’t about criticizing how she looks. To me, it felt like a sweet, loving throwback – a way of fondly remembering a beautiful past.

Okay, so I was really shocked when Cynthia Erivo responded to that edited photo on Instagram! She said it was the most offensive thing she’d ever seen, and honestly, it felt like a really personal attack to her. It was a bit of an overreaction, though, and a lot of us fans were surprised because we often create fan edits like that, and usually studios love seeing that kind of creativity. It felt like we were being told off for doing something we’re normally encouraged to do!

Erivo’s over-the-top reaction to a simple fan tribute caused unnecessary drama and created a lasting impression: she doesn’t just disagree – she completely overreacts.

The memory of a past controversy still affects how people react to Cynthia Erivo’s public appearances. So, when GQ magazine chose her for a “Men of the Year” cover – usually reserved for men – it felt different to those who remember her quick disagreement with fans over a simple poster change. It makes people wonder if the magazine is celebrating her achievements or intentionally seeking attention through controversy.

“Jesus Christ Superstar”

Cynthia Erivo received significant attention when she was cast as Jesus in a new production of Jesus Christ Superstar. This decision quickly upset many Christians, who believed it was deliberately designed to offend, rather than being a genuine artistic choice or respectful reimagining of the story.

People of faith, already disappointed by Hollywood’s tendency to alter religious stories to make a statement, found the depiction of Jesus as a gay woman particularly offensive and felt it went too far.

Rather than addressing the criticism or understanding why people were upset with the casting choice, Erivo quickly dismissed the concerns. This came across as disrespectful to those who felt their faith was being exploited for attention. The incident reinforced the idea that some studios and actors seem to prioritize creating controversy over improving the original work.

What GQ’s Shift Says About the Current State of Media

News reports often highlight Instagram likes and social media buzz surrounding this issue, but they miss the real problem: people are getting tired of publishers changing what things are just to remain popular.

Traditionally, ‘Men of the Year’ has recognized outstanding achievements by men. Changing this without explanation by featuring a controversial celebrity risks damaging trust and reinforcing the idea that media outlets value sensationalism over meaningful content.

For those who’ve read GQ for years, a question arises: if the ‘Men of the Year’ issue no longer focuses solely on men, what is it celebrating now?

A Moment That Feels Engineered, Not Earned

The decision to feature Cynthia Erivo on a ‘Men of the Year’ cover feels like a calculated attempt to generate buzz, prioritizing attention-grabbing reactions over thoughtful journalism in today’s media environment.

While GQ may have successfully generated buzz, it seems to have done so by confusing its audience and potentially undermining its history of celebrating truly impressive accomplishments by men.

Read More

2025-11-13 23:57