Vanity Fair faces backlash over all-male Hollywood Issue lineup
Photo: Vanity fair
Vanity Fair is drawing significant backlash after unveiling an all-male lineup for its 32nd annual Hollywood Issue, a choice that sparked widespread debate about representation in the entertainment industry. The three-cover edition, released this week, features actors Jeremy Allen White, A$AP Rocky, Glen Powell, LaKeith Stanfield, Callum Turner, Riz Ahmed, Jonathan Bailey, Harris Dickinson, Andrew Garfield, Paul Mescal, Michael B. Jordan, and Austin Butler. Many readers quickly questioned why no women were included, especially given ongoing conversations about gender inequality in Hollywood.
THE 2026 HOLLYWOOD ISSUE
In Hollywood’s golden age, studios turned regular men into secular gods: changing their names, hiding their flaws. But now, writes Ottessa Moshfegh, the era of the remote matinee idol is over—and the dawn of the almost approachable, appealingly authentic… pic.twitter.com/sCTdCgk36PReactions on social media ranged from praise for the selected actors to frustration over the absence of female performers. Some commenters wondered whether the magazine would release a separate women-only cover, while others argued that highlighting only men felt out of touch amid growing concerns about rising misogyny and persistent industry disparities. One social media user asked, “What happened to the women?” while another quipped about the issue’s tagline, saying they had “heard enough of the boys.”
Vanity Fair did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Independent regarding the decision. However, the magazine’s global editorial director, Mark Guiducci, offered an explanation within the issue itself. He described the all-male selection as a reflection of the “new leading men” shaping Hollywood today, portraying them as more vulnerable, grounded, and human than traditional movie stars or past generations of male idols. Guiducci framed the lineup as a commentary on shifting cultural expectations and the evolution of male stardom, noting that today’s actors are “good guys rather than strongmen or bad boys.”
The Hollywood Issue has long been considered a key moment in the lead-up to awards season and has historically showcased rising talent across film and television. The first edition in 1995 featured only women, and the magazine alternated between all-male and all-female covers during its early years before transitioning to mixed-gender ensembles. Over time, Vanity Fair has featured women exclusively 11 times, making this year’s all-male choice a notable return to an earlier format — and a decision that has clearly reignited discussions about representation in Hollywood.