Sports Illustrated faces backlash for transgender pop star Kim Petras’ swimsuit cover

She’s a sultry cover girl, but some are telling her to cover up.
Pop singer Kim Petras graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue — the second transgender woman to do so.
The publication is facing backlash from conservatives, who are calling for a boycott of the mag.
But many people clapped right back at anti-transgender remarks.
Petras’ cover is one of four for this year’s Swimsuit Issue, alongside Megan Fox, Brooks Nader and Martha Stewart.
She opened up to the sports bible about the “pressure” she feels from being an icon in the LGBTQ+ community.
“It’s definitely a scary time to be transgender in America, but there’s also so much more representation than there’s ever been, and there’s so many things on the bright side,” Petras, 30, told SI in her cover interview amid an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation popping up across the country.
“I do feel a pressure sometimes to represent the trans community with everything I do,” the Grammy winner admitted. “Because I feel very blessed that I am at this point where I have all these amazing opportunities that I’ve worked really hard for, and feel so happy when I hear from trans people in general that they’re inspired by me.”
Despite marking a win for the LGBTQ community, it sparked outrage from conservatives who were quick to compare the trans-inclusive cover to the widespread backlash Bud Light received after teaming up with transgender social media star Dylan Mulvaney.
30-year-old Petras is one of four women to appear on the cover of SI’s swimsuit issue this year. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated
“Except Kim Petras is not there because of her popularity with SI readership, but because SI editorial despises its readership, just as Bud Light management despises its customer base,” one Twitter user wrote in response to SI’s tweet about Petras’ cover. “This really pure class contempt. ‘Ha ha those dumb beer-drinking SI readers!’”
Another user curiously accused the publication of “mind rape,” writing: “The goal is to trick hetero men into sexual desire for other men.”
Another called the cover a “celebration of something very dark and very sad.”
However, others spoke out in support of seeing Petras, chastising haters.
“I don’t see what hurts you about trans people. It doesn’t affect you,” one social media user wrote. “The amount of trans hate in this thread is unreal.”
“Love Martha Stewart and Kim Petras,” another tweeted. “Tired of men deciding what defines … beautiful women.”
One more admired Petras as “such a sweet soul.”
The musician told SI that being trans is not even the most important thing about her.
“I always try to remember that everything I do is definitely not about being transgender. It’s a part of me, but there are so many other parts of me,” the “Coconuts” singer sold SI. “And I think that’s really important for me to show that to people. No matter what your gender or sexuality or any of that stuff is, it’s about what you make of life and it’s about what’s inside of you, so I hope that can be inspiring to people.”
Petras and singer Sam Smith made history after winning at the Grammy Awards this year. FilmMagic
Petras admitted it’s a “scary” time to be transgender in America. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA
Petras made history earlier in the year at the 65th annual Grammy Awards, winning Best Pop Duo Performance with Sam Smith for their dance hit “Unholy.”
She was the first transgender woman to take home the award, and the second trans woman to win a Grammy.