Sports Illustrated is going in a new direction with this year’s swimsuit issue. In a “stunning and brave” decision, a transgender model Valentina Sampaio will be featured in SI’s coveted swimsuit issue. The decision raises questions about who will purchase the upcoming swimsuit issue despite its legacy as a magazine American men look forward to each year. And also serves to highlight the hypocrisy of feminists applauding the magazine’s “historic” decision.
"I feel strong, and I feel inspired to fight, not just for me but for everyone that I represent." – SI Swimsuit 2020 rookie Valentina Sampaio https://t.co/CJCrL0qb4E pic.twitter.com/0F0h6eXXeY
— Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) July 10, 2020
“Good Morning America” applauded Sports Illustrated’s transformative decision to have Valentina Sampaio grace the pages of the swimsuit issue.
The model was born a boy a Brazil and is excited to be the first transgender woman to be featured in the magazine as detailed in the video below.
Valentina Sampaio is the first transgender “Sports Illustrated” swimsuit model. @ErielleReshef has the story. https://t.co/fa9XZd0ySb pic.twitter.com/4gLlYGYjk5
— Good Morning America (@GMA) July 10, 2020
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Sales
Of course, this magazine has traditionally been purchased by men. But, will men continue purchasing it? According to many men on Twitter, that answer is a definitive NO.
Sports Illustrated is not a charitable organization but a for-profit company that is dependent on sales. So what is this decision really about if not sales?
Retired professional baseball player Aubrey Huff isn’t afraid to voice his opinion on the matter.
The two-time World Series champion isn’t shying away from the fact that he is not in favor of this decision. He tweeted #GetWokeGoBroke along with a puking face emoji.
Check out the new transgender Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. ? #GetWokeGoBroke pic.twitter.com/icVJvyIqD9
— Aubrey Huff (@aubrey_huff) July 11, 2020
Then other men joined in to voice their displeasure about having Sampaio included in the sultry magazine which ushers in bikini season.
And what is this suppose to accomplish? Except confirming that I’ll never buying the swimsuit issue.
— Thein Candescent (@TheIncandescent) July 11, 2020
Well, that’s the last time I support Sport’s Illustrated. Absolutely no reason to parade a mentally ill man on their cover just to pander to a very small group who encourages this sick behaviour.
Trans women are men, period.
— Al_Wood (@AlWood99428332) July 10, 2020
RELATED: ‘South Park’ Causes a Stir With Trans Athlete Based On Randy “Macho Man” Savage
Hypocritical Feminists
As feminists and leftists applaud a transgender model in the SI swimsuit issue, Greg Gutfeld of Fox News pointed out the hypocrisy.
Previously, they said the issue is misogynistic and degrading to women. But, including a biological man in women’s bathing suits is now viewed as brave by this crowd. “The Five” host sarcastically pointed this out in the tweet below.
Nod approvingly to SI for their first transgender swimsuit model (which they dearly anticipate), but it doesn’t erase the decades of misogyny of past swimsuit issues.
[this is merely a robotic response to their desperate virtue signaling they now deserve]— GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) July 11, 2020
But Gutfeld isn’t the only person to recognize the hypocrisy. In addition to the previous claims of misogyny, there also is the irony of a biological man taking a woman’s job.
It’s funny because feminists always called the SI Swimsuit Issue “exploitive” and “demeaning”. Now suddenly it’s STUNING AND BRAVE!! ?
— Stunning and Brave (@HexRaoul) July 11, 2020
I thought the woman’s movement said SI swimsuit issue was degrading to women I guess it doesn’t apply to a transgender.
— cool girl (@mcfarland_sally) July 10, 2020
So how does this help women? Another man taking a woman’s job.
— Jill Gaffney (@jag92961) July 11, 2020
This might get Sports Illustrated applause from people on the extreme left but that won’t help them pay the bills when sales slump.
Surely, men don’t want to be served up a political agenda while looking at scantily clad women.