- The Washington Times - Thursday, February 8, 2018

The team behind the 2018 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue is under fire for a #MeToo-inspired project involving naked models.

Social media backlash ensued this week after SI promoted a photo shoot in which naked women “became a canvas … to share their truth.” Sultry women in clips posted online pose naked with words like “mother,” “feminist,” and “truth” painted on their bodies.

“SI Swimsuit models celebrate more than just their bodies in candid, new project … The women of #SISwim 2018 became a canvas … to share their truth,” the publication said Wednesday in a series of tweets.

“It was a really beautiful thing because it’s a female-powered project so I walked in [to the shoot] and it’s my friend Mary doing makeup and my friend Taylor doing the photos and my other friend Robin doing the videos,” model Sailor Brinkley Cook, 19, told People magazine on Thursday. “I’m just like ’what’s up gals?’ It’s like we’re in the locker room or something accept we’re making something really beautiful and important.”

Critics accused the SI team of sending a contradictory message.

“@SInow I am appalled at the #metoo  photos you just released,” singer Kaya Jones tweeted Wednesday. “As an entertainer who was abused I feel disgusted that you show naked women in your magazine and claim you support women when you are completely objectifying women. More of what we DO NOT need!”

“The swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated, which caters to horny dudes, is not an empowering depiction of women. This is not a magazine I trust to fight sexual harassment and assault,” added TED Talks editor Ella Dawson, Fox News reported.

“I love it. #metoo advertised with naked women. Only in Hollywood,” tweeted another.

The 2018 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue comes out Feb. 13.

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide