The New Yorker cover from July 21, 2008. (The New Yorker)
The New Yorker cover from March 12, 2012. (The New Yorker)
The New Yorker Cover from September 24, 2001. (The New Yorker)
“Sesame Street’s” Bert and Ernie have always been the best of friends, but an upcoming cover of The New Yorker magazine suggests that the Muppets might be in a different kind of relationship.
Shown in partial silhouette from behind, Burt sits upright on a couch with his arm wrapped around Ernie who rests his head on Burt’s shoulder.
The snuggling pair are lit up by a television that clearly displays the Supreme Court.
Earlier this week, the high court ruled that same-sex couples should get the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples while the court also cleared the path for same-sex marriage in California. Both decisions were seen as major victories for gay rights supporters.
The magazine calls the July 8 & 15 cover, “Bert and Ernie’s ‘Moment of Joy.'”
“It’s amazing to witness how attitudes on gay rights have evolved in my lifetime,” said Jack Hunter, who created the cover for mag.
“This is great for our kids, a moment we can all celebrate.”
Although rumors about Bert and Ernie being gay have swirled for years, Sesame Street released a statement in 2011 saying that the room-sharing puppets are “best friends.”
“They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves,” the statement read.
“Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics … they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.”
The New Yorker has a history of poking fun at the political right and left but sometimes the magazine has captured important moments in history with their cover drawings.
During the 2008 presidential election the magazine infuriated both the McCain and Obama camps when it published a cover with the Democrats’ candidate dressed in traditional Muslim garb in the Oval Office with his wife, who was wearing camo pants with an AK-47 slung over her shoulder.
During the 2012 presidential election, the magazine took a swipe at the Romney campaign after the candidate tried to prove his every-man credentials with a story about going on a vacation with his family’s dog Seamus strapped to the roof of their car.
On The New Yorker’s cover, Seamus was replaced by Romney’s nomination rival, Rick Santorum.
While the magazine has sometimes used its cover to make political statements, there have been other moments where it has perfectly captured a poignant moment in history.
One of those moments was when it published a simple grey cover of the twin towers in silhouette two weeks after the Sept. 11 terror attack.