New York Magazine unveiled the special edition of its first men’s style issue on Monday, September 28. Instead of spotlighting fashion, it sparked a heated debate online.
Elliot Page, a transgender man, was among the magazine’s cover stars. Page, who publicly shared his name and he/they pronouns in December 2020, has been a well-known actor for nearly 3 decades. He has also written about his experience in his memoir, Pageboy.
New York Magazine introduced the issue on X.
“WELCOME TO OUR FIRST MEN’S STYLE ISSUE. We’ve often covered men’s style over the years. There was the 1971 cover story wondering if men would get into high heels for fall and the 1996 profile of male super-models (‘They’re hot, they’re rich, they’re openly straight’). And for three seasons starting in 2006, the back half of the women’s fashion issue was a mini men’s magazine. Now, 20 years later—when even 15-year-olds are ‘hype’ about Ralph and Armani’s got a brand-new designer—It feels like the right moment to dedicate an entire issue to the subject.”
The post continues, “One thing we’ve noticed from the runway: wearing all your clothes at once. And another for our peptidian age: wearing hardly anything at all. Somewhere in between is our shoot at the Russian & Turkish Baths on East 10th Street, where photographer Ryan McGinley shvitzed and kibitzed with some of New York’s most stylish men, including (Troye) Sivan, who just moved to the city.”
Replies to the magazine’s post were hostile towards Page. One user wrote, “New York Magazine first ‘men’s style issue,’ and you expect us to believe the most uncomfortable looking person fits that description? Pushing your narrative of what you think a man is, she is clearly suffering from multiple illnesses,” while another wrote, “Literally no one walking on the planet things that tiny, unhappy-looking woman with mastectomy scars is a man. What a gross insult to males everywhere. 🙄 Peak stupid.”
A third user wrote, “Having a female in your mens issue is certainly a choice …”
Fox News posted about the issue on X, sharing the magazine cover which is of Page without a shirt. “Transgender actor Elliot Page is one of New York Magazine’s cover stars for its first-ever issue dedicated to men’s style,” the caption of the post read.
Similarly, the comments were full of critics and unsavory comments. Even Rep. Nancy Mace wrote, “This is not a man.”
Another commenter mocked page, writing “She’s so brave!! It’s so normal!!!” Another responded, “A once-beautiful girl who society let down by conforming to the self-destructive delusions of her mental illness.”
Since the cover was revealed, Page has yet to respond to the controversy or comments. He took to Instagram also on September 28 to promote his new mockumentary series Slo Pitch.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
