Vogue (magazine) the American issue (the other two men were actors George Clooney and Richard Gere), and the first in which the man was black. Some observers criticized the cover as a prejudicial depiction of James because his pose with Bündchen was reminiscent of a poster for the film "King Kong". Further criticism arose when the website "Watching the Watchers" analyzed the photo alongside the World War I recruitment poster titled "Destroy This Mad Brute". James reportedly however liked the cover shoot. In February 2011, just before the 2011 Syrian protests unfolded, "Vogue" published a controversial piece by Joan Juliet Buck on
Vogue (magazine) sent the magazine more than 8,000 protest emails or faxes regarding the ads. The group also claimed that in response, they received scribbled notes faxed back on letters that had been addressed to Wintour stating, "Will you stop? You're killing trees!" In response, a spokesperson for Condé Nast released an official statement: ""Vogue" does carry tobacco advertising. Beyond that we have no further comment." In April 2008, American "Vogue" featured a cover photo by photographer Annie Leibovitz of Gisele Bündchen and the basketball player LeBron James. This was the third time that Vogue featured a male on the cover of