• February 14, 2012

Bono?“Hey, art department! What’s his name, famous guy, the black one, he won the president award! Vanity Fair is going to do this up right! Figure out where he’s from, or where his dad was from, just make that really big. And then get another famous black guy, from the same place, or Kentucky, doesn’t matter. Don’t forget to put Bono’s name somewhere, also really big. We need this in five minutes, ‘kay?” UPDATE: Wait, this is a cover from years ago? Why is it being emailed by VF flacks today, to illustrate a, uh, Dee Dee Myers’ article about Obama being famous? WTF. [Vanity Fair]

{ 49 comments }

Doglessliberal January 27, 2009 at 2:01 pm

OK, that is just a bizarre picture. It looks as if Barry is putting the moves on Ali. Maybe with some U2 on in the background?

masterdebater January 27, 2009 at 2:02 pm

PLAYBOY!! BIG BOOBS!!! BONO!!!!

WhatTheHeck January 27, 2009 at 2:04 pm

I don’t see no big “Muslim” on that cover.
Half-assed job!!!!

Sassette January 27, 2009 at 2:04 pm

Who the hell designed that cover, some editor’s 13-year-old nephew with MS paint on his laptop? Is this what publishing has come to? We couldn’t at least crop the photo symmetrically?

Tommy Says Soooo January 27, 2009 at 2:04 pm

This will just kill John Updike.

Servo January 27, 2009 at 2:06 pm

What would anyone expect from the mag that had a nude and pregnant Demi Moore on it’s cover?

The Station Manager January 27, 2009 at 2:07 pm

The soundtrack to this cover is Careless Whisper.

bhosp January 27, 2009 at 2:07 pm

To be fair, the huge word “VANITY” right over Muhammad Ali’s head is pretty appropriate.

Jobbotch January 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Wait, but this is one of those 28 collectible covers from that Bono-edited issue ages and ages ago. July 2007, specifically. Barry was barely a candidate then.

Harvey Birdman January 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Sarjo January 27, 2009 at 2:09 pm

“We need this in five mnutes”

MNUTES being the official horological unit of Muslin Africkan subsistence farmers, I presume?

AngryBlakGuy January 27, 2009 at 2:10 pm

…what the hell is Barry looking at?!

Chickensmack January 27, 2009 at 2:11 pm

[re=229633]Sassette[/re]: Whoever did the photo rending forgot to clear the spittle from the corner of Ali’s mouth. Oopsie.

Cape Clod January 27, 2009 at 2:14 pm

[re=229634]Tommy Says Soooo[/re]: Damn, you are current.

CankleBiter January 27, 2009 at 2:16 pm

[re=229634]Tommy Says Soooo[/re]: Your timing is hilariously funny/sickening!

Condiments-Only Diet January 27, 2009 at 2:16 pm

[re=229634]Tommy Says Soooo[/re]: Win.

skyinator January 27, 2009 at 2:17 pm

I once met Muhammed Ali. A class act. A thorough-bred among men. That’s all.

Tommy Says Soooo January 27, 2009 at 2:20 pm

[re=229657]skyinator[/re]: My pappy met him too. Said he was indeed a nice guy. My dad has met few celebrities. I’m sure he was shaking. Well, at least one of them was.

Mustang January 27, 2009 at 2:20 pm

“It was no accident that President Obama’s first televison interview from the White House went not to an American network but to an Arab one.”

I knew it. I KNEW IT!

freakishlystrong January 27, 2009 at 2:22 pm

Oh dear, expect much over-wrought prose from our Peggington Noonington on this one…

BobLoblawLawBlog January 27, 2009 at 2:22 pm

[re=229634]Tommy Says Soooo[/re]: I love that I find out about the passing of people I respect through snark.

Mr Blifil January 27, 2009 at 2:22 pm

Barry should probably spend a little less time celebrating draft dodgers. Boner won’t like.

Mr Blifil January 27, 2009 at 2:24 pm

[re=229642]Jobbotch[/re]: Don’t you get it? Now they can be yours on a fucking PLATE! Don’t just sit there motherfucker, get to the PHONE!

insert_namehere January 27, 2009 at 2:24 pm

I do believe that “Bono” is the Swahili word for “irritating gnat”.

This is why Africa needs bed netting.

sarahconnor January 27, 2009 at 2:25 pm

[re=229643]Harvey Birdman[/re]: can’t they just show Ali sitting on Madge’s face while Obama fists her? And A-Rod, also.

Sproutz January 27, 2009 at 2:25 pm

Where on Ali is Obama’s hand reaching??? zOMG, Ali/Obama fan fun!

I like how his arm disappears up to the elbow behind the word “Africa” though–like he’s groping the Heart of Darkness. Or the boxer balls of darkness, or something.

wheelie January 27, 2009 at 2:25 pm

[re=229642]Jobbotch[/re]: True; it’s an old one. But then it has a feature on Princess Diana, so it was behind the times too.

Noocular Jane January 27, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Dammit wheelie – I was totally gonna point out the “if all else fails – add Princess DI” element. We are nothing, if not shallow.

Doglessliberal January 27, 2009 at 2:30 pm

[re=229668]BobLoblawLawBlog[/re]: “Each morning my characters greet me with misty faces willing, though chilled, to muster for another day’s progress through the dazzling quicksand, the marsh of blank paper.”

RIP, Updike.

sarcasticusername January 27, 2009 at 2:30 pm

um it’s a little awkward to think that barry struck that exact same “oops i’ve got a boner” pose for a cover shoot with michelle; i wonder did he whisper the same sweet nothings to ali as well? judging from the much less amused expression on ali’s face than that which michelle sported, i’m going to guess that he is.

magic titty January 27, 2009 at 2:32 pm

Bono guest edited that issue? Is that why his big dumb name is so relentlessly plastered on the cover? He needs to go the way of Palin and Joe the Dickbag. Away. Forever.

V572625694 January 27, 2009 at 2:33 pm

[re=229633]Sassette[/re]: Just imagine if Wired had done this cover.

V572625694 January 27, 2009 at 2:34 pm

[re=229681]Doglessliberal[/re]: Sad about Updike. Rabbit is Rich, Rabbit at Rest…does realistic fiction get any better than that?

Mr Blifil January 27, 2009 at 2:36 pm

[re=229676]Sproutz[/re]: After everything Ali has been through, the least he deserves if a little friendly reach-around action from the sitting POTUS. He picked up the habit in prison.

space stout January 27, 2009 at 2:37 pm

[re=229675]sarahconnor[/re]: and maya can read a poem about the shenanigans. and have buttseks. also.

Doglessliberal January 27, 2009 at 2:38 pm

[re=229691]V572625694[/re]: I read my first Updike when I was about 11 or 12. It blew my mind that someone could do that with words. His books were creations, not just stories.

Randomhookup January 27, 2009 at 3:05 pm

To be fair, Sonny Bono hasn’t really been a big newsmaker lately. I’m not sure I understand all the fuss.

Sussemilch January 27, 2009 at 3:06 pm

[re=229688]V572625694[/re]: Mhm.
http://www.geocities.com/nullacct/susse/wired.jpg

WalnutsIsMyCo-Pilot January 27, 2009 at 3:18 pm

What the hell kind of GD photo is this?! Lighting FAIL.

psilage January 27, 2009 at 3:21 pm

I like how they positioned them in such a way that their outlines make the shape of Africa.
No?
Madagascar maybe?

Fivetree January 27, 2009 at 3:24 pm

Madonna must be pitching a FIT right now.

Miller January 27, 2009 at 3:33 pm

Of course Bono is guest editing an issue about Africa, he’s got a new U2 album to promote. Though I think we should all take the time to congratulate him on the sheer amount of humility it must have took to make his name third largest on the cover. Although he did make “AFRICA” transparent and less readable so that “BONO” really pops.

http://thesebastards.blogspot.com/

lawrenceofthedesert January 27, 2009 at 4:16 pm

John Updike had 500 rejection slips from The New Yorker before he was 18; they should have quit while they were ahead. The Rabbit books were so-so and the rest awful. His criticism was pompous and patronizing. He was the George Will of literature.

Tommy Says Soooo January 27, 2009 at 4:38 pm

[re=229844]lawrenceofthedesert[/re]: I wuv you. Though Will has better hair.

Schadenfried January 27, 2009 at 4:50 pm

[re=229625]Doglessliberal[/re]: ZOMG HUSSEIN NOBAMA IS GHEY HOMO SECKSHUL MUSLIN!!!!!111 /wingnut

Min January 27, 2009 at 6:15 pm

Hmmm…Bono’s name in bright white letters over a faded Africa. Am I supposed to read something into that?

wheelie January 27, 2009 at 6:22 pm

[re=229795]Miller[/re]: Because nothing sells a 2009 rock album like a Vanity Fair cover from 2007.

Good luck with that terrific blog of yours, you know, the one nobody reads.

rocktonsammy January 27, 2009 at 6:39 pm

DOWN GO FRAZIER DOWN GOES FRAZIER DOWN GOES FRAZIER

hobospacejungle January 27, 2009 at 7:43 pm

[re=229751]Sussemilch[/re]: WIN. Excellent skillz, Milky.

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