There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Rolling Stone magazine as of late, because they decided to put Boston bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, on their August 1st 2013 cover.
The decision has resulted in many retailers, such as 7 Eleven, refusing to sell the issue of the magazine. The Mayor of Boston also sent a letter to the publisher of Rolling Stone, Wenner Media, denouncing the magazine. It appears all this could have been avoided, if Rolling Stone's original cover choice didn't back out-- Kanye West.
Gawker reports from a reliable source that the Yeezus rapper, who has already appeared on the Rolling Stone cover twice in the past, was scheduled to appear on the August issue. However, perhaps because of the birth of his child North West, and not wanting to talk about her, or simply because he doesn't like interviews, he pulled out.
See the two previous covers 'Ye did for the magazine in the gallery above. Interestingly, his 2006 cover also caught some flack, as it featured Kanye dressed like Jesus, with the words "The Passion of Kanye West." Foreshadowing?
A Wenner Media representative has declined to comment on the situation.