Tabloid blackout on exclusive Beyonce Knowles wedding pictures

ingi · April 12th, 2008, 02:58 PM

Were mags biased against Beyonce and Jay-Z?

Are the celebrity media racist?

A top tabloid editor tells me that Jay-Z and Beyoncé's wedding was played down by the weeklies because "African-Americans don't sell covers."

Of the big five celebrity glossies out midweek, only Us Weekly gave Beyoncé the top spot on the cover. Other magazines gave her second billing to the likes of Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Aniston.

"None of the magazines landed an exclusive on wedding pictures, which would have made the story bigger," said one tabloid insider, justifying why Beyoncé was relegated to a small cover box on his magazine.

But even wedding photos make less money for black stars, says another source. "Eva Longoria can get $1 million for wedding photos, but without the expectation of cover sales, Beyoncé might have gotten as little as $250,000 if she had sold hers," says a top editor.

Magazine publisher and black gossip pioneer Flo Anthony responds: "That sounds to me a very racist statement. Beyoncé is one of the biggest stars in the world, much bigger than Eva Longoria."

Anthony publishes Black Noir for women, as well as Toy Box, a black parenting magazine with a celebrity focus. She said: "It is hard for African-Americans in magazines. Only a few people, like Will Smith and Halle Berry, are mainstream. Editors really still think that only blond hair and blue eyes sell magazines."

As another tabloid source says: "We have a saying, 'Only Oprah.' Oprah is the only black celebrity big enough to put on our cover."

But Us Weekly editor in chief Janice Min tells me: "Janet Jackson has been on our cover twice, for two of our best-selling issues we've ever had."

Min is also the only non-Caucasian to helm a top celebrity magazine. She acknowledges there is a perception in her industry that black stars don't sell covers, but adds: "Typically, you will hear that discussion among a group of all-white editors."

Source

GaPeach · April 12th, 2008, 03:54 PM

oh for the love of peter, paul and mary, they kept it a secret. Jay-Z wanted it private, if he hadn't the paparazzi would have been there in droves. He doesn't want to sell his memories to the highest bidder and there's something cool and honest about that.

sparkly · April 12th, 2008, 05:04 PM

Beyonce and Jay-Z are very private people, so they probably had no intention of capitalizing off their wedding. Leave that to celeb trash like Jessica Simpson/Nick Lachey.

january · April 12th, 2008, 05:11 PM

I do think there is some truth to this...I don't even remember a huge fuss over Halle when she got pregnant, even though Angelina was on a cover probably every damn month of her pregnancy. Yeah, it could be a load of crap, but its entirely possible this is something discussed quietly in the editing room.

Sleuth · April 12th, 2008, 07:00 PM

yeah cause everything is racist

especially when it involves Beyonce not winning awards or getting covers.

GaPeach · April 12th, 2008, 08:04 PM

^^ talk about meow .. two snaps and a you go -- LMAO and you are so correct!

ingi · April 12th, 2008, 08:17 PM

I believe the US Weekly Janet Jackson cover was one of the top sellers of all time.

olivia720 · April 12th, 2008, 08:33 PM

This theory is retarded. Bey has been on innumerable covers that sold well. so many that she became overexposed.

lavi · April 13th, 2008, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by january

I do think there is some truth to this...I don't even remember a huge fuss over Halle when she got pregnant, even though Angelina was on a cover probably every damn month of her pregnancy. Yeah, it could be a load of crap, but its entirely possible this is something discussed quietly in the editing room.

Well there are HUGE differences in the stories though. I understand what you are saying and I will say there might be a hint of truth to it. But the whole Angelina, Pitt, Aniston story is on an entirely different level.

There was possibly adultery that took place. Plus the whole younger vixen stealing away the husband of an older woman angle they could use. Then a baby. Not to mention all of them being stars in their own right. There was just so many angles and stories that could be made up (and still being made up) off of that situation. It had all the makings and drama of a perfect Hollywood script.

What do we have here? Jay-Z got married..... and...... nothing. No angle, not really much surprise since they have been dating for a long time. It was a given that they would likely get married at some point. They also didn't sell their photos to a tabloid. I don't think Beyonce is as big a star as people try to make her out to be. Either is Eva Longoria but that whole thing was based on pure hype. She was still in a hit TV show and she sold out to the tabloids. If she waited to get married until now it wouldn't have been a big deal like it was.

Folieadeux · April 13th, 2008, 01:27 AM

Quote:

A top tabloid editor tells me that Jay-Z and Beyoncé's wedding was played down by the weeklies because "African-Americans don't sell covers."

Oh for fucksake! How about it wasn't on the covers because it was NEVER confirmed.

purple rain · April 13th, 2008, 01:47 AM

Beyonce has never been a big tabloid target. She and Jay-Z try to keep their personal life private. The secrecy surrounding their relationship and wedding was probably the reason it wasn't a bigger deal. I don't know why some people have to turn everything into an issue about race. This is almost as ridiculous as the complaints over the Gisele/LeBron James Vogue cover. Beyonce and Jay-Z are probably thrilled their wedding didn't make the cover of the rags. Why would they want their life splashed all over the front covers of the trashy tabloids?

qwerty · April 13th, 2008, 01:50 AM

I can't say that I've had much interest in their wedding so I'm not disappointed by the lack of coverage. It has nothing to do with color and everything to do with Beyonce's overexposure. I'm so sick of seeing her that I don't even find her looks all that special anymore. Can she and Jay Z just go and veg on their private island for a year?

NicoleWasHere · April 13th, 2008, 01:57 AM

"African-Americans don't sell covers."

I lawl'd. That's so not true.

purple rain · April 13th, 2008, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by january

I do think there is some truth to this...I don't even remember a huge fuss over Halle when she got pregnant, even though Angelina was on a cover probably every damn month of her pregnancy. Yeah, it could be a load of crap, but its entirely possible this is something discussed quietly in the editing room.

Halle's baby's father is a complete unknown. I think Brad/Angelina only received so much attention because they are both famous. And the whole hoopla surrounding their affair/the Aniston marriage breakup added a third big celeb to the storyline. There doesn't seem to be as big of a deal made over their 2nd pregnancy. Probably because the whole Aniston scandal has died down, and people expect them to add children to their family.

Plus, I haven't exactly seen the tabloids gushing over blonde haired, blue eyed Nicole Kidman's pregnancy. And she's an A-List star.

**Mr. Authority** · April 13th, 2008, 02:02 AM

OMG Beyonce and Jay-Z did'nt get any attention for their PRIVATE and SECRETIVE wedding. To all the tabloids: