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GQ Gives Serena Williams A WOTY Cover BUT Body Type Comments Cause Controversy

Misplaced quotes, or something more?

Our forever GOAT, Serena Williams, landed the cover with GQ Magazine just months after being essentially penalized out of winning the Grand Slam tournament, and apparently the cover is not without controversy. 

Giving us all kinds of black girl magic and melanin glow, the 23-time Grand Slam winner posed on the cover of the magazine wearing a black long-sleeve turtleneck leotard as the “Woman” Of The Year, the problem is many are questioning why the word woman was placed in quotes.

See the cover for yourself then let’s talk.

(Photo: GQ)

GQ

(Photo: GQ)

Fans wasted no time hopping on Twitter calling the magazine out for seemingly questioning the mother of one’s femininity. 

ICYMI: Last year, the tennis star shared an open letter on Reddit expressing the judgment she has experienced due to her muscular physique: " I've been called [a] man because I appeared outwardly strong. It has been said that I use drugs. It has been said I don't belong in Women's sports -- that I belong in Men's -- because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and proud of it).”

While many suspected foul play, what you may not know is that the font used for the word “woman” was actually handwritten by her friend and Off-White creator, Virgil Abloh, who often uses quotation marks in his work—including in his collaboration with Nike for Serena's US Open outfit.

Mick Rouse, whose Twitter bio reads GQ research manager, attempted to explain:

Even with the facts, fans shared their thoughts.

Do you think people are putting too much into the cover art, or not enough? Drop a line in the comments sharing your thoughts.

FYI: Serena’s GQ cover will be released on Thursday (Nov. 15) alongside three other GQ’s 2018 Men of the Year, featuring actors Michael B. Jordan, Jonah Hill and Henry Golding.

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