Vanity Fair (the Magazine)

[jaghetersimon]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Bush pledged $30 billion in the fight against HIV/AIDS last week, the majority of which will go to Africa. Yes, he's put disgusting and counterproductive coniditions on the money (like the abstinence first policy), but that is still a lot of money. I can't stand him but he's certainly doing more than Madonna, Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, Brad Pitt, etc.

[Deleted]

jaghetersimon said:

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Bush pledged $30 billion in the fight against HIV/AIDS last week, the majority of which will go to Africa. Yes, he's put disgusting and counterproductive coniditions on the money (like the abstinence first policy), but that is still a lot of money. I can't stand him but he's certainly doing more than Madonna, Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, Brad Pitt, etc.

And didn't Bono commend him in the past?

[viridian]

Good point - thanks for clarifying, jaghetersimon. Still an irritating set of covers, though.

[huntergrayson]

Everyone looks really, really stiff and awkward.

Were the celebs even in the same room? I know for the Hollywood issues, Annie has sometimes taken the three panels separately and then merged them into one. I'm kinda hoping that they were photoshopped together because otherwise...ick.

I understand the concept they're trying for but it looks really bad, on the whole. Except the Bono and Queen Ranier of Jordan one. They look fantastic.

I can't tell whether Madge/Maya and Oprah/Clooney are either "do me" as GirlyGhoul suggested or BRAINS! BRAAAIIINNNS!

[titilayo]

For a few of them the people were in the same room (Rice and Bush, Alicia Keys and Iman, don't know if any others), but, yeah, the rest were photoshopped together. There's lots more background about it at the Vanity Fair site for the issue.

[twodollars]

Wow, after seeing these Africa photos and the awful TomKat photo, I think Annie has lost her touch completely. These celebs look really bland and stiff except for Madonna and Dijmon.

[divasahm]

I agree--not the caliber I've come to expect from Annie.

[Deleted]

I think the only ones I like are the one with Bono and Queen Rania and the Don Cheadle cover with Iman. The others look bad IMHO.

[piscessiren]

admin said:

The whole Africa thing would be more appealing to me if I didn't suspect that a lot of the people were showing up just for the cover.

But maybe i'm just being overly cynical.

You're not cynical, you see through the bullshit posturing. With few exceptions, how many of these people truly care and do something for Africa?

I think Annie's game is off too.

[twodollars]

Over 1/2 of the celebrities on the Africa covers have been doing work for Africa. They might be egotistical assholes, but they have also tried to improve conditions in Africa.

1. Bono - decades meeting with politicians, the pope,etc. to raise money for Africa
2. The Gates - millions of dollars to fight malaria in Africa
3. Warren Buffett - Donating $87 billion to help fight poverty with a big chunk going to the Gates foundation.
4. Don Cheadle - Extensive work on saving Dafour from PSAs, speaking to world leaders to raising money to help
5. George Clooney - Visited Dafour, spoke at the UN to stop the genocide, met with world leaders, raised money to help
6. Brad Pitt - helped with Live8 and ONE campaign, has worked to raise money and awareness for Africa for years.
7. Madonna - built/funded an orphanage in Africa
8-10. Bush/Rice/Obama - all have funded bills that would sent tons of money to Africa. Obama has spoken out on the Dafour issue.
11. Oprah - Built schools in South Africa, highlighted the Red campaign, donations to charity, etc.
12. Bishop Tutu


As for the others, I don't follow their careers to know about their contributions.