10 Controversial Photographs

A controversy is generally understood as a subject of prolonged public dispute or debate. These discussions are often centered around differing opinions on various topics such as world history, religion, philosophy, politics, economics, science, finance, gender, race, and age. In some parts of the world, controversial matters are considered disruptive to society and are avoided in public discourse, while in other societies, it is believed that all facets of a subject should be discussed openly and thoughtfully.

Since the invention of the camera, countless controversial photographs have been captured. This article will highlight 10 such images that have sparked significant concern in the media and ignited debate online. This list does not claim to represent the top ten most controversial photos in history but instead aims to showcase a selection of images not often featured in similar articles. We would love to hear your thoughts on what you believe are the most controversial images of all time.

10. The Mysterious Tucker

The 1948 Tucker sedan was a groundbreaking vehicle developed by Preston Tucker and produced in 1948. Records show that only 51 Tucker sedans were manufactured before the company ceased operations. The car's design was revolutionary for the 1940s, focusing heavily on safety. It was the first automobile to feature seat belts, safety glass windshields, and the Cyclops headlight system, which could swivel to enhance night driving visibility. However, in 1949, the Tucker Corporation faced public mockery and a consumer backlash, leading to its closure amid accusations of stock fraud. In 2011, a 1948 Tucker sedan was appraised on the show It's Worth What? with an estimated value of $1.2 million.

Justin Cole, who operates Benchmark Classics in Middleton, Wisconsin, claims to own the only unfinished prototype of a Tucker convertible. The authenticity of the vehicle has been challenged by classic car collectors worldwide. The story goes that the convertible was a secret prototype, referred to as 'Project Vera,' developed by Preston Tucker and named after his wife. However, Alex Tremulis, the designer of the Tucker sedan, denied that the convertible was an official or unofficial factory project. Justin Cole refers to the car as Tucker #57, noting that the number 57 is stamped on the body panels.

In 2010, Justin Cole attempted to sell the Tucker convertible at the Russo and Steele auction in Scottsdale. The bidding reached $1.4 million but failed to meet the reserve price. The car was also listed on eBay in 2010, where bidding approached $900,000 but once again did not meet the reserve. The vehicle remains for sale on Benchmark's website, accompanied by an extensive photo gallery. It showcases clear Tucker design elements and a clean convertible conversion. The Tucker Automobile Club of America believes the vehicle was converted after the company's closure.

9. Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie) Cover

Girls' Generation, a nine-member South Korean pop girl group, was formed in 2007 and has become the best-selling Korean girl group worldwide. In the summer of 2009, they participated in a photoshoot with a military theme, one of the images from which was chosen for the cover of their mini-album Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie). After the album's release, the cover image sparked controversy. The photo featured a plane that many believed resembled Japan’s A6M Zero fighter plane, used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Additionally, critics pointed out that the military attire, medals, and hats worn by the girls seemed to echo those worn by the Third Reich.

One particular detail that caught attention was the eagle emblem on the girls' hats, which closely resembled the Nazi Party emblem. In response to the backlash, SM Entertainment issued a statement saying, “We used military icons for the album cover, but it was interpreted in a way we didn’t foresee, so we plan to replace it with an image of the South Korean T-50 supersonic jet.” Moving forward, Girls' Generation should be more cautious when incorporating imagery linked to Nazi and Kamikaze symbolism. Despite the controversy, Sowoneul Malhaebwa (Genie) achieved the #1 spot less than 24 hours after its release.

8. Thomas Hoepker’s 9/11 Photo

Thomas Hoepker, a German-born photographer and member of Magnum Photos, was in New York on September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center was attacked. He captured hundreds of photos documenting the destruction, but one particular image became iconic. The photograph depicts a group of Americans casually conversing while the Twin Towers burn in the background. Hoepker withheld the image from publication for five years, concerned about the message it conveyed. In 2006, the photo stirred controversy in the American media, with The New York Times publishing an article suggesting that it represented America's failure to learn from the tragedy and to evolve as a nation.

“The young people in Mr. Hoepker’s photo aren’t necessarily indifferent (insensitive); they’re simply American.” This is a country that prefers to move on quickly. The individuals in the photograph responded by explaining that they were in a state of profound shock and disbelief. They criticized Hoepker, claiming he took the photo without their permission and misrepresented their emotions. Regardless, the image has become one of the most defining photographs of 9/11, continuing to provoke debate in the eyes of many.

7. Sochi Six

At the end of World War II, both the United States and the Soviet Union seized a significant amount of German intelligence, including data on a German rocket program. This technology sparked the Space Race (1957-1975) between the two superpowers. Each country selected a group of individuals to be their first astronauts, often keeping their identities secret. One such example is Grigori Nelyubov, a Russian-born astronaut. While little is known about Nelyubov, he was likely the third or fourth person to journey into space before being dismissed from the Soviet space program in April 1963 due to disorderly conduct. After his dismissal, all records of Nelyubov's life were removed from the Soviet archives.

Grigori Nelyubov’s image was erased from a famous collection of photographs, including the iconic Sochi Six picture, which depicts the key members of the original Soviet cosmonaut class. This airbrushing led to numerous conspiracy theories regarding lost cosmonauts and undisclosed space flights. Nelyubov tragically took his own life in 1966. Between 1961 and 1972, at least eight former Russian cosmonauts are known to have passed away. The Sochi Six photo was officially released in the 1970s, but the deception was only uncovered after Russian news managers lost track of the versions they had already published. This led some to claim that the Soviet Union’s early space achievements over the United States in the 1950s and 1960s were fabricated. The original Sochi Six photograph, before Nelyubov was removed, is included here. He is the tallest man in the picture.

6. Samar Hassan

Chris Hondros, an American war photographer nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, traveled to Iraq in 2005 to document the war. On January 18, 2005, he was in Tal Afar when he witnessed a car that failed to stop at a U.S. checkpoint. Fearing it might be a suicide bombing attempt, U.S. soldiers opened fire on the vehicle, killing both parents and injuring one of their five children. Hondros approached the scene and captured an iconic photograph of 5-year-old Samar Hassan, drenched in her parents' blood. Once published, the image quickly spread worldwide, sparking controversy. Many consider it one of the most defining images of the Iraq War, akin to the famous photo of the Vietnamese girl running after a napalm attack. The Iraq War produced few such images, partly because of the dangers to photographers and the strict regulations imposed by the U.S. military.

In 2011, Samar Hassan viewed the photo for the first time and shared her story in an interview with The New York Times Middle East. She explained that her family was in the car because her brother was ill, and they were returning from the hospital. By 2011, Samar lived in a two-story house on the outskirts of Mosul with four other families, mostly relatives. Chris Hondros was quoted discussing the photo: “Almost every soldier in Iraq has been involved in some sort of incident like that or another. Their attitude was grim, but it wasn’t the end of their world.” It was reported on April 20, 2011, that Chris Hondros and photojournalist Tim Hetherington were killed by a mortar attack in Misrata while covering the 2011 Libyan civil war.

5. Mary Moorman JFK Photograph

Mary Ann Moorman witnessed the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and is most famous for capturing an iconic photograph of JFK just moments after being shot in the head. At the time of the tragic event, Moorman stood across from the grassy knoll, approximately 15 feet (5 meters) away from the presidential limousine. Her photograph was taken just one-sixth of a second after the bullet struck the President. The image has sparked considerable debate. Some people believe they can identify as many as four distinct figures on the grassy knoll, including the well-known figure of a uniformed police officer referred to as the “badge man.” Others claim to see Gordon Arnold or a man wearing a construction helmet. There is also speculation about the light-colored area above the wall on the left side, which some argue appears to be photo manipulation.

Gordon Arnold’s story adds another layer to the mystery. In 1978, Gordon claimed that, prior to the assassination, he was approached twice by a well-dressed agent, possibly from the CIA or Secret Service, who demanded he move away from behind the picket fence on Dealey Plaza’s grassy knoll. Arnold stated that he then moved just south of the fence and filmed the assassination with his movie camera. During the event, a bullet narrowly missed his left ear, prompting him to dive to the ground. An armed officer in a Dallas police uniform approached him, kicked him while he was on the ground, and demanded he hand over his film. Another officer, also in a Dallas police uniform, stood nearby, wearing yellow-tinted “shooter’s glasses,” crying, shaking, and frantically waving his rifle.

The Moorman photograph has been digitally altered for use in television documentaries. In the enhanced image, blood and brain matter are visible flying forward, which challenges the theory that the fatal shot was fired from the front. Moorman’s original photo was never seized by the FBI, and in 2008, she sold it for $175,000 on eBay. In contrast, a second photo that Moorman took showing the sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book Depository moments before the shooting was lost. This photo was confiscated by the FBI and never released. It likely shows Lee Harvey Oswald, or perhaps another person involved in shooting at the President’s car. Another noteworthy photograph was taken by Phillip Willis (number 5) just seconds before the fatal headshot. Willis claimed he snapped the picture after being startled by what he believed to be the first shot. His photograph shows the grassy knoll, and some claim to see the “black dog man” in the image.

4. 7/7 London Terror Attacks

On the morning of July 7, 2005, four homegrown Islamist terrorists carried out a series of bombings on the London Underground trains. In total, 52 innocent lives were lost in the horrific attacks. The bombers, all of whom died that day, were identified as Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Germaine Lindsay, and Hasib Hussain. CCTV footage captured the attackers entering Luton station before the bombings. On September 1, 2005, al-Qaeda officially took responsibility for the bombings. However, an official investigation by the British government later revealed that the al-Qaeda video claiming responsibility had been edited after the event, and that the attackers did not receive direct support from the terrorist organization.

The lack of concrete details surrounding the events and the confusing timeline has given rise to numerous conspiracy theories. Some Iranian newspaper editorials have suggested that British or American authorities were behind the bombings, intending to escalate the War on Terror and exacerbate tensions with Muslims in Europe. There have also been theories about the attackers themselves, with some claiming they were merely pawns in a larger scheme. A key aspect of these theories centers on a photograph taken at Luton station, which, after being scrutinized, many believe is a fabricated image.

The photograph in question has raised several concerns, particularly regarding inconsistencies with the railing in the background. The railing seems to be shifted across the man's arm, and the crossbars do not align properly. Additionally, the individual on the right side of the image lacks a clear face, and their left leg appears unusually thin. The quality of the image itself is very poor, making it difficult to identify the faces of three of the terrorists. It is the only known image showing all four bombers together on 7/7. Interestingly, no other CCTV images, whether still or moving, have ever been released. To make matters more intriguing, the image is time-stamped at four seconds before 7:22 AM, suggesting the men had only three minutes to ascend the stairs at Luton, purchase their tickets, and reach the platform.

3. Brooke Shields

The full image will not be included here, only a cropped version. Garry Gross, an American fashion photographer renowned for his dog portraiture, took a series of photographs in 1975 that sparked one of the most controversial debates in photographic history. These photos feature a ten-year-old Brooke Shields in the nude, posed both standing and sitting in a bathtub, wearing makeup, and covered in oil. These photographs were taken with the consent of her mother, Teri Shields. At the time, Gross was working on a project titled The Woman in the Child, in which he aimed to highlight the femininity of prepubescent girls by drawing comparisons with adult women. The series first appeared in the magazine Little Women and later in Sugar and Spice, a publication under Playboy Press.

In 1981, Brooke Shields attempted to stop the continued use of the photos, but a U.S. Court ruled that she was bound by her contract and, surprisingly, that the images did not violate child pornography laws. In 1992, renowned American artist Richard Prince, famous for his reproduction work, bought the rights to the photographs. He recreated one of the images, titling it 'Spiritual America.' In 1999, Prince's version of the photograph sold for $151,000. Three years ago, the print was removed from the Tate Modern gallery in London. In response, Garry Gross remarked: 'The photo has been infamous from the day I took it as I intended it to be.' While disappointed by the Tate's decision, he was not surprised. In 2002, a similar controversy arose in London over a photograph taken by Swiss artist Annelies Strba.

2. Depiction of Muhammad

This entry doesn't refer to a particular image, but rather the depiction of Muhammad as a whole. On September 30, 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 editorial cartoons that portrayed the Islamic prophet Muhammad in various contexts. The headline for the cartoons read: 'Muhammeds ansigt' (The face of Muhammad). These cartoons were created by 12 professional cartoonists from Denmark, most of whom were regular contributors to the newspaper. After their release, protests erupted across the Muslim world, leading to over 100 deaths. The Danish embassy in Pakistan was bombed, and embassies in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran were also attacked by firebombs. Demonstrators stormed European buildings and set fire to flags from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, France, and Germany in Gaza City.

The newspaper explained that the cartoons were meant to contribute to the discussion surrounding the criticism of Islam and self-censorship. The cartoons were later reprinted in over 50 countries, which only intensified the controversy. Critics called the cartoons racist and offensive to the Muslim faith, while supporters argued that the drawings addressed significant issues surrounding terrorism and represented a legitimate form of free speech. Many in the Western world argued that Muslims were not treated differently from other religions, as unflattering cartoons of figures like Jesus and Gautama Buddha are often published.

The controversy surrounding the cartoons was addressed in two separate episodes of South Park, a show infamous for its depictions of Jesus. Comedy Central, the network behind the show, became hesitant to air any images of Muhammad following the riots and threats triggered by the cartoons. After Muhammad was featured prominently in the South Park episode '200,' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone received death threats from the Revolution Muslim organization. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen referred to the Muhammad cartoon crisis as Denmark’s most significant international dilemma since World War II.

1. Piss Christ

Andres Serrano, an American photographer, is infamous for incorporating feces, corpses, and bodily fluids into his artwork. Raised in a strict Roman Catholic household, Serrano is of mixed Honduran and Afro-Cuban descent. In 1987, he created a photograph titled Piss Christ, which shows a small plastic crucifix submerged in a glass of the artist's urine. This piece was part of a series where classical statuettes were immersed in various liquids, including milk, blood, and urine. Serrano earned $15,000 for this photograph from the U.S. government’s National Endowment for the Arts. The piece was first exhibited in 1989, sparking a massive controversy. Many people were outraged by the image, accusing the U.S. government funding of Piss Christ as a violation of the separation of church and state.

Serrano faced death threats following the uproar and lost public funding for his work. He defended the piece by explaining that the photograph was not meant to attack religion, but rather to comment on the commercialization and cheapening of Christian symbols in modern culture. While supporters of the work argue that it is a statement on free speech, others believe it is their responsibility to destroy the image if it is shown in a public museum. In 1997, Serrano's work was featured in a retrospective at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, where two teenagers attacked Piss Christ with a hammer. On April 17, 2011, Christian protesters vandalized a print of Piss Christ beyond repair while it was on display in Avignon, France.