The New York Post was slammed for its Wednesday, Aug. 20 cover showing American journalist James Foley right before he was beheaded by ISIS. Many people took to Twitter to criticize the magazine, calling the cover "insensitive" and "disgraceful."
Some urged Twitter to suspend The New York Post's account for posting the graphic image.
"Pretty sure ISIS could not be happier with the New York Post's front page today," Buzzfeed's Adam Serwer tweeted.
"Twitter says it is 'actively suspending accounts' posting James Foley beheading images. Will it suspend @nypost?" Neetzan Zimmerman wrote.
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo has not commented on the Post's cover, which the publication tweeted, but did issue a statement warning users that accounts would be suspended for posting images of Foley's beheading.
"We have been and are actively suspending accounts as we discover them related to this graphic imagery. Thank you," Costolo tweeted including a link to a New York Times' article about the journalist.
For their cover shot, the New York Post chose a still from a video posted online by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria that showed Foley on his knees with a black-hooded man standing behind him with his hand covering Foley's mouth and a knife at his throat.
The screen-grab was taken moments before the journalist was beheaded by ISIS. The cover image was accompanied by the word "SAVAGES." The New York Daily News went with a very similar cover but chose an image of Foley kneeling on the ground with the man standing behind him holding the knife in the air. The cover for the Daily News is below; the graphic New York Post cover can be viewed here.
Foley was kidnapped two years ago in Syria while working for the Global Post. Yesterday, ISIS posted a video online showing the murder of the journalist. Following the video's release, Foley's mother released a statement via Facebook asking for privacy.
"We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people. We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syrian or anywhere in the world. We thank Jim for all the joy he gave us. He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person. Please respect our privacy in the days ahead as we mourn and cherish Jim."
