The Vogue April cover starring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen labelled as racist, with several critics said the photo does nothing but perpetuating racial stereotypes.

While Vogue noted with some fanfare that LeBron James was the first black man to grace its cover, commentators decried the photo claiming that he's shown in gorilla-like pose, baring his teeth, with one hand dribbling a ball and the other around Bundchen’s tiny waist.

In fact, the image of 6-foot-9 NBA star and the 5-foot-11 Brazilian model shot by Annie Leibovitz, was compared to “King Kong” and Fay Wray.

Vogue spokesman Patrick O’Connell said the magazine “sought to celebrate two superstars at the top of their game” for the magazine’s annual issue devoted to size and shape.

“We think Lebron James and Gisele Bundchen look beautiful together and we are honored to have them on the cover,” he said.

James told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer he was pleased with the cover, saying he was “just showing a little emotion.”

“Everything my name is on is going to be criticized in a good way or bad way,” James told the paper. “Who cares what anyone says?”

Images of black male athletes as aggressive and threatening “reinforce the criminalization of black men,” said Damion Thomas, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at University of Maryland. 

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