BOSTON (WHDH) — Many businesses are now stepping up to protest the cover story of “Rolling Stone” magazine which features alleged Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
People could have seen the “Rolling Stone” cover on store shelves as early as Thursday, but in New England there will be many empty spaces where the magazine would be.
Tedeschi’s was the first to say no sale to the new issue of “Rolling Stone”. CVS was quick behind saying its deep New England roots will keep them from selling the controversial issue.
Potential customers supported the stores’ decisions.
“I think it’s great that they’re not selling it,” said one woman.
Local grocery store chains like Stop and Shop, Roche Brothers and many others said they, too, will not be selling the Tsarnaev issue in their stores.
Tedeschi’s went further on the company’s Facebook page with a statement that reads in part, “Music and terrorism don’t mix” next to a crossed out picture of the magazine’s cover.
While these companies will lose a little money in the short run by not selling the magazine, customers told 7News the goodwill they gain, or the backlash they avoid, makes it worth it in the long run.
“I think that’s great, I’ll be at their stores,” said one woman.
Some of the victims of the bombing have spoken out too. Transit officer Richard Donohue, who was seriously injured in a shootout with the Tsarnaev brothers, called the “Rolling Stone” cover “thoughtless at best.”
Mayor Tom Menino echoed the feelings of many when he said the survivors and first responders to the bombing deserve the “Rolling Stone” cover, but then he added, “Rolling Stone” doesn’t deserve them.
“He’s a terrorist. We don’t want him on our, in our neighborhoods, we don’t want him on our magazines, we don’t want him anywhere,” he said.
“Rolling Stone” issued a statement defending its decision to put Tsarnaev on the cover. It read, “The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens.”
The lengthy article offers little news but tries to explore why the Tsarnaev brothers, and particularly Dzhokhar, allegedly became American terrorists.
“Rolling Stone” does offer a glimpse of a different side of Dzhokhar after the bombing. They passed on a story supposedly making the rounds from a former nurse who said that “Dzhokhar cried for two days straight after he woke up in the hospital.”
7News’ Dan Hausle reached out to “Rolling Stone” asking what it thinks about all the stores not selling the latest issue. The magazine has not returned the phone call.
A number of national publications are coming to “Rolling Stone”’s defense, including “The Washington Post,” “Esquire,” and “Slate.” “Slate” said whatever glory comes from the cover has more to do with infamy than celebrity.