Box-office powerhouses Tom Cruise and Michael B. According to cultural scholars and fashion experts, the side-by-side appearances of 64-year-old Cruise on the cover of GQ and 39-year-old Jordan on the cover of Vogue highlight a deep divide in how male physical worth and cultural authority are codified today.
Tom Cruise Faces Social Media Backlash Over GQ Cover
Tom Cruise appeared on the cover of GQ for the first time in 20 years, posing in an unbuttoned shirt with one hand running through his hair and the other gripping his belt buckle. Despite his history of being crowned the sexiest man alive, internet users reacted with widespread criticism. Instagram comments ranged from expressions of shock to users dubbing him “unc,” internet slang for someone out of touch.
Dr. Ashley Morgan, a masculinities scholar at Cardiff Metropolitan University, notes that while society hosts a massive range of masculinities, public focus frequently reverts to the white male patriarch. “That is what Cruise is selling on this cover,” Morgan says. Andrew Groves, director of the menswear archive at the University of Westminster, adds that the styling leans heavily on traditional labor codes. “Everything in the Cruise image is constructed to make it appear sexy, yet somehow it isn’t,” Groves says. “Cruise is given clothes rather than fashion. The worn shirt and old Levi’s belong to a masculine language of work and labour.”
Michael B. Jordan Debuts on Vogue Cover Highlighting Softness
In contrast, 39-year-old Michael B. Jordan made his Vogue debut—marking only the sixth man to secure a solo cover for the publication—photographed laughing on a bed of flowers with an unbuttoned suit showcasing his physique and a flash of his right nipple. Social media reaction to Jordan’s imagery was overwhelmingly positive, drawing widespread attention across platforms.
Morgan points out that Jordan offers an alternative representation. “Jordan presents a range of masculinities including ideas around Black masculinity,” she says. “He’s wearing a suit but it’s very suggestive. His cover is more universally attractive to men, women and others.” Groves emphasizes the distinct fashion choices in Jordan’s shoot, noting that he “is allowed fashion, decoration, jewellery, and softness. His masculinity is constructed through a much wider set of codes.”
Did you know? Michael B. Jordan is only the sixth man to appear on a solo cover of Vogue in the publication’s history.
Broader Cultural Context and Media Framing
The magazine releases arrive amid intense public discussion surrounding the manosphere, looksmaxxing, toxic masculinity, and shifting definitions of manhood. Alona Pardo, a curator who previously explored masculinities in photography at the Barbican in London, argues that both covers demonstrate “how the media continues to codify and reinforce normative ideals of manhood.” Pardo suggests that Cruise’s portrayal relies on defying aging to reinforce “the standard that a man’s worth is linked to physical vigour and perpetual dominance.”
Jessa Crispin, author of What’s Wrong with Men, views Cruise’s cover as an extension of his role as “the dad of Hollywood”. In his accompanying GQ interview, Cruise discusses mentoring younger actors, such as providing actor Glen Powell with a six-hour instructional film. “It’s a very kind of traditional man-as-steward masculine role,” Crispin says, comparing Jordan’s appearance to Cary Grant due to its humor and traditional charm.
Ultimately, Pardo views both portrayals as a disappointment that leans on the visual language of virility to reassert traditional patriarchal authority in direct opposition to social movements like #MeToo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the Tom Cruise and Michael B. Jordan magazine covers drawing attention?
The covers are drawing widespread attention and debate because they feature two major box-office stars representing different generations—Boomer and Millennial—adopting contrasting visual styles of masculinity on prominent men’s and fashion magazine covers.
What did scholars say about Tom Cruise’s GQ cover?
According to Dr. Ashley Morgan and menswear expert Andrew Groves, Cruise’s cover projects a traditional white male patriarchal image using labor-associated clothing like worn shirts and Levi’s jeans rather than contemporary fashion.
How does Michael B. Jordan’s Vogue cover differ?
According to experts, Jordan’s Vogue cover incorporates fashion, decoration, jewelry, and softness, presenting a broader set of codes that include Black masculinity and universal appeal.
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