Tedeschi Food Shops, CVS Won’t Be Selling the Latest Issue of Rolling Stone

Photo via Facebook.com

UPDATE 7/17/2013, 3 p.m.: Rolling Stone just posted its story on Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with the following statement at the top:

Our hearts go out to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and our thoughts are always with them and their families. The cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone’s long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day. The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens. –THE EDITORS

PREVIOUSLY: The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine, which features a close-up of alleged Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, doesn’t hit shelves until Friday. But in some locations that usually carry the magazine, it won’t be hitting the shelves at all.

A sneak peek of the August cover story posted on Rolling Stone’s website on Tuesday night almost immediately sparked controversy, and led to a flurry of complaints, as well as Facebook pages and hashtags on Twitter dedicated to boycotting the latest release, based on the editorial staff’s decision to use a photo of Tsarnaev that makes him look like “a rock star.”

Readers and the general public weren’t the only ones to decide that they won’t support the magazine, however.

On Wednesday afternoon, as the outrage continued to swirl on social media, the owners of Tedeschi’s posted a statement and the above photo, indicating that they would not be placing the issue on their store shelves because they didn’t want to shed light on Tsarnaev, and call attention to his actions based on his portrayal on the cover. “Tedeschi Food Shops supports the need to share the news with everyone, but cannot support actions that serve to glorify the evil actions of anyone. With that being said, we will not be carrying this issue of Rolling Stone. Music and terrorism don’t mix,” the company said in a statement on their Facebook page.

Similarly, CVS chains will also hold off from promoting the Tsarnaev cover. In a statement from the company, representatives said they couldn’t support Rolling Stone. “CVS/pharmacy has decided not to sell the current issue of Rolling Stone featuring a cover photo of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect. As a company with deep roots in New England and a strong presence in Boston, we believe this is the right decision out of respect for the victims of the attack and their loved ones.”

Walgreens and Cumberland Farms later confirmed the same.

The August cover features a selfie of Tsarnaev and is meant to supplement a ”riveting account” of the suspect’s life in Cambridge and Boston. According to the magazine’s editorial staff, the cover is meant to merely highlight a “deeply reported account of the life and times of Boston bomber Jahar Tsarnaev,” with two months worth of detailed reporting and commentary from the suspect’s childhood friends and former classmates, as well as teachers, neighbors, and law enforcement agents.

A manager at the bookshop Trident on Newbury Street said the store hasn’t discussed whether or not the magazine will be displayed as of yet. Requests for comment from other stores in Boston, such as Newbury Comics, were not immediately returned.