Vanity Fair’s new boss wants Melania Trump on the cover — the big, glossy front page everyone notices. Some staffers are furious. One editor said, “I will walk out the motherf–king door, and half my staff will follow me.”
Just the idea of the first lady smiling from Vanity Fair has the office in chaos. The cover is a symbol of prestige in the fashion world, and for many editors, putting Melania on it feels like crossing a line they are not willing to accept.
Mark Guiducci, the magazine’s global editorial director, suggested the idea as he tries to make his mark in his new role, Semafor reported. Guiducci’s plan is simple and clear, he wants to put Melania on the cover and get people talking about the magazine. But for some staffers, the proposal is a big problem. They fear it could make Donald Trump and his wife appear normal or even glamorous, which goes against their personal beliefs and political opinions.
“We are not going to normalize this despot and his wife; we’re just not going to do it. We’re going to stand for what’s right,” the editor added. “If I have to work bagging groceries at Trader Joe’s, I’ll do it. If [Guiducci] puts Melania on the cover, half of the editorial staff will walk out, I guarantee it.”
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However, not all staffers are as dramatic. Some believe the threats are mostly talk and do not expect mass resignations. One employee said, “It’s all talk. If they put her on the cover, people will protest and gripe about it, but I don’t see anyone quitting such a prestigious job over that.” Another added, “Honestly, there will be people who push back, but it’s ultimately Mark’s decision. He’s the one who will sink or swim over that choice, not the rest of us.”
Melania has historically been left out of Vanity Fair and Conde Nast’s Vogue during Donald Trump’s first term. That is in stark contrast to Michelle Obama, who appeared on Vogue 3 times while she was first lady. The difference illustrates how magazine coverage can be influenced by politics, and it also reflects the challenges Melania faces in navigating her public image.
Despite all the debate inside the magazine, Melania herself has said she does not seek the spotlight. “Look, I’ve been there on the covers — on the cover of Vogue, on the covers of many magazines before … We have so many other important things to do than to be on the cover of any magazine,” she told Fox News. “I think that life would not change for anybody if I’m on the cover.”
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
