GQ France March 2021 : Grant Douglas by James Brodribb

[Benn98]

Via GQ France:

Grant Douglas, 27-year-old American, 1.96 meters tall and weighing 120 kilos, is the first plus size cover boy in GQ history . A solar and serene mind in a healthy body scooted by the editorial staff on Instagram. In a world where self-esteem is more than ever shaped by the gaze of others, Grant the Wise is a hero.

 

[KoV]

Is that a..... hairy gut hanging from below that t-shirt?


I have to admit, this is very much a physique (tall, massive, strong) I find myself going week in the knees for, but is it really a first? He’s just built like an American footballer or a Rugby player, so at least in American GQ, men like him are a dime a dozen,

 

[Benn98]

^I suppose the question is, are they dime a dozen on the covers of men's fashion magazines and the answer would be no. GQ across the globe certainly had plus-sized men on covers before but they've mostly been shot from the shoulders up. Not showing their gut like this.

I like the idea behind it and I think the French are trying to be cheeky about it, but I hate that they've dropped the ball with the styling. Why not follow through with the same type of HF styling a top male model would've gotten? He looks like your average American on his way to or coming from a 'game'.

On another hand, I hope they're seriously trying to have a conversation and not just taking the mickey out of Americans, lol.

 

[KoV]

The thing is, I’ve just looked at the cover subject’s Instagram page, whence he was scouted, and this cover photo is arguably the least flattering (in a conventional sense) photo of him I’ve now seen. The styling with the torn shirt, exposed gut, keychain-worn-as-necklace, and what appears to be some sort of khaki cargo pant definitely feels very much like an unflattering American “bro” stereotype. I’m not sure what the intent was, but coming from the French, it feels a little sus. Should I be offended or just go with it and admit I find it kind of hot?

Also I thought male models who are, um, on the husky side used to term “big and tall” and not “plus sized”? Maybe I’m wrong.

 

[RedSmokeRise]

Bold move for GQ France but the styling.... come on!!!

 

[aracic]

Plus size my ***! What are the rest of us, obese then? Please. Big, tall, beefy and gorgeous is what I'd call this man but plus size is cerainly not it.

 

[marsnoop2]

Thick and gay? We stan. But agreed, why is the styling soooo lazy. It seems rude to me that he wasn’t envisioned any other way.

 

[Phuel]

Not sure about his Insta pics, but that cover select is actually a very flattering shot of him: He does look like the average football/rugby jock, down to how he’s styled for this covershot, of which I'm sure was intentional. Unfortunately, the rest of the shots for the coverstory— and this includes a few other big men, doesn’t endorse the bigger jock physique. They actually look obese and unhealthy, with a lot of rolls and no muscles underneath the fat. This is not healthy, even if a lot of men— and women, may be celebrating this type of doughy body for the relatable factor.

 

[Benn98]

Should I be offended or just go with it and admit I find it kind of hot?

Also I thought male models who are, um, on the husky side used to term “big and tall” and not “plus sized”? Maybe I’m wrong.

LOL, maybe just go with the 'hot' part.

I dunno, when I read 'big and tall' I think Zlatan Ibrahimovic etc, 'chubby' would be a commonly used term to describe the coverstar which I hope is not some sort of slur.

 

[KoV]

LOL, maybe just go with the 'hot' part.

I dunno, when I read 'big and tall' I think Zlatan Ibrahimovic etc, 'chubby' would be a commonly used term to describe the coverstar which I hope is not some sort of slur.

come on, “chubby” is not the word for this mountain of beef!

 

[Benn98]

Wait, is that him? I guess he does seem pretty average here but this looks like the type of Grindr profile that usually comes with the bear emoji in the handle.

Watch how Giampaolo Sgura will book this model for everything.

 

[Mody]

I wonder when people would come to realize that subcategorizing each and everything in American way just create controversy which leads to chaotic rather than provide solutions
And yeah if these global editions would dare to put an Asian male subject to their perspective value of beauty It might be more interesting

 

[0st3nd]

It's the hairy belly for me

 

[THD96]

It's not cover worthy, sorry. I had hope after the debut issue but now it's look like they following their awful direction of their Us edition. Is there of plus size French actors available? Is there no budget around this time?

 

[Benn98]

Is there of plus size French actors available? Is there no budget around this time?

That's why part of me thinks it's so shady. Let's do a splashy cover about men's body positivity, but let's get an American instead which ironically other-ise the movement for GQ Fr readers. They're so true to form with the shade, lol.

Plus sized French actors? I can only think of Gerard Depardieu, they must've forgiven him by now

 

[Bertrando3]

NO NO NO with a passion. It's a really bad image, of a very very average man. Average images should not be on the cover of FASHIONNNNNNNNN magazines sorry. It hurts my eyes seeing this gosh. Where's the luxury? Where's the passion for fashion? Where's the aspirational factors??? I see guys like this in the streets. This issue will NOT sell well I am very sure of that. We can't talk about body here (but we can talk about race or gender... LOL double standards in today' society) but the view of that body yeah... can't talk about it but if I could... anyways NEXT!

 

[Benn98]

I see guys like this in the streets. !

I read 'sheets' instead of 'streets' and burst out laughing! But that's probably something @KINGofVERSAILLES would say.

So you reckon this cover won't sell? LOL. Not even to the M Le Monde squad? It has their brand of irony which I think some may find cool.

 

[THD96]

That's why part of me thinks it's so shady. Let's do a splashy cover about men's body positivity, but let's get an American instead which ironically other-ise the movement for GQ Fr readers. They're so true to form with the shade, lol.

Plus sized French actors? I can only think of Gerard Depardieu, they must've forgiven him by now

I guessed social issues movements is still not that open in French so they just go with an American instead.

What about my French sugar daddy Jean Dujardin. Not really plus size, but more dad bod.

 

[Bertrando3]

I read 'sheets' instead of 'streets' and burst out laughing! But that's probably something @KINGofVERSAILLES would say.

So you reckon this cover won't sell? LOL. Not even to the M Le Monde squad? It has their brand of irony which I think some may find cool.

ahahha ditto to me it's not a problem of sales, it might with their niche readers but the problem I have in today's world is we used to embrace a certain type of physique (you know which kind y'all runway lovers...) and now it's the complete complete opposite and that's super wrong too. I don't support this movement and it's not healthy or visually pleasing anyways.

Now if we concentrate on the image itself TELL ME in which world would ANY high fashion magazine would actually publish this??? NONE; only in this reality? Gosh where did I leave my ''time stone from the Avengers''? It must be somewhere, I need to leave this reality right away . I mean COME ON Y'ALL!!!!
- he looks like a homeless person (and not in the Italian Vogue glory a la Steven Meisel under Franca stunning coverssssss)
- the pic looks like a backstage shot
- I see no aspirational or beauty element
= but yeah sure: let's put this on a cover and GQ no less which USED TO represent men's refinement. A bit of seriousness in the court please ahahaha

 

[mikel]

It's the hairy belly for me

Same.