Jonathan Majors Responds to 'Effeminate' Cover Story Backlash

Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors is a cover boy on the latest issue of Ebony Magazine, and the photos went viral for... obvious reasons.

Majors just appeared as Kang in the latest Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania movie as well as opposite Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan in the upcoming Creed III film, so he's clearly a hot ticket right now. He's had a steady rise over the last few years that many would consider odd for a leading Black man, even appearing as the young gay activist Ken Jones inWhen We Rise.

"What I’m trying to do with my work is show nothing is monolith," Majors told Ebony. "Not Blackness, not maleness, not comic-book villains."

His photos certainly reflect that, a soft and colorful palette juxtaposed to his substantial muscles and presence.

But not everyone loved the shoot, particularly some people who felt like Majors was being "emasculated."

“Uh…..so I guess I’m the only one who sees this cover as kinda effeminate???” one comment read. "What happened to masculine hot straight men. Pathetic," said another. Another person tweeted, "Sad your rag does this to men. No one likes it."

That's certainly not true. We like it! But some folks death grip on heteronormativity and traditional masculine roles have them determined to be upset about it. Also, they're clearly forgetting it's Ebony's Valentine's Day issue. And his stylist Alexander-Julian Gibbson also said Majors' look was inspired by basketball player Allen Iverson and the anime One Piece, particularly the character Doflamingo.

Majors responded to the drama on the Ant-Man red carpet. "It's always good to make a ruckus."

Some folks are just determined to have a bad time. We'll turn up the volume on Ebony's behind-the-scenes footage over their whines.