On Tuesday, in the middle of a national debate over the freedoms of protesting the national anthem by taking a knee, Sports Illustrated revealed its latest cover: "A Nation Divided / Sports United."
THIS WEEK'S COVER: In a nation divided, the sports world is coming together https://t.co/sKPjrhHhmZ
The cover depicts prominent athletes and other figures of the professional sports industry with linked arms.
The announcement also links out to the cover story entitled "Athletes Are Not Going to 'Stick to Sports' and That's an Admirably American Thing."
People immediately took issue with the political assertions made with the cover photo and title. Pro-Trump supporters threatened to boycott the magazine.
@SInow @benshapiro
@SInow @benshapiro I've gotten this magazine every month since I was 12. I am canceling my subscription today
And some were simply upset they had taken a position on the national debate at all.
@SInow @allahpundit I remember when Sports Illustrated illustrated sports
A lot of people, however, immediately took notice of one person who's glaringly missing from the cover: Colin Kaepernick.
@SInow Where's Kap?!?!?!?!
Kaepernick was the first NFL player to take a knee to protest police brutality and racial inequality in 2016.
Many were confused by the omission.
where's kaep
They were especially confused because the magazine featured Roger Goodell at the forefront, linking arms with Steph Curry.
Colin Kaepernick is nowhere to be seen on this cover, but Roger Goodell gets a front-row spot? https://t.co/qwm5fXFfb7
Man #SportsIllustrated GTFOH. really, roger goodell in the front!? And where tf is Kaep???
"The Sports Illustrated 'protest' cover includes a man who gave a $1,000,000 to Trump but not Colin Kaepernick who lost his career over it," musician Mikel Jollett noted.
The Sports Illustrated "protest" cover includes a man who gave a $1,000,000 to Trump but not Colin Kaepernick who l… https://t.co/NS7PWj2Gu2