The end of an era?
Sports Illustrated has been an institution for nearly 70 years. The magazine in its current form was first published in 1954, and over the years has served as one of the go-to sources for sports news and opinions, while also gaining popularity for their racy swimsuit covers.
Originally owned by Time, Inc., SI was acquired by Authentic Brands Group LLC in 2019 for a reported $110 million, and since then the company has undergone significant changes and restructuring in an attempt to remain profitable, including licensing the rights to digital media company Maven (now known as The Arena Group) and launching non-editorial ventures like clothing lines and resorts.
But Sports Illustrated was hit by a major controversy at the end of 2023 when it was reported that the company was using AI-generated content and passing it off as being written by humans by creating fake writer profiles with AI images.
This Sports Illustrated story is wild.
The TLDR is that they bought AI-generated headshots and created fake writer profiles so they could publish AI-generated content and make it look real.
They then deleted the content when asked about it.
Super sad. SI used to be the best. https://t.co/xgDDtxP9PD pic.twitter.com/Wkq618VFxQ
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) November 27, 2023
The Arena Group fired their CEO in the wake of the scandal, but earlier this week announced that it would make “significant reductions” in its workforce amid substantial debt and missed licensing payments to Authentic Brands Group.
But now, it seems like the once-iconic brand may have finally reached its end.
It was reported today that Sports Illustrated plans to lay off all of its editorial staff and writers, a move seemingly confirmed by a statement from the union representing SI’s writers:
“Earlier today, the workers of Sports Illustrated were notified that The Arena Group is planning to lay off a significant number, possibly all, of the Guild-represented workers at SI, a result of Authentic Brands Group (ABG) revoking Arena’s license to publish SI.”
Our statement on today’s mass layoffs at Sports Illustrated pic.twitter.com/tQjJdoHP4p
— Sports Illustrated Union (@si_union) January 19, 2024
And as word spread about the likely demise of the magazine, fans began taking to social media to share some of their favorite Sports Illustrated covers from throughout the publication’s history.
Post your favorite Sports Illustrated cover: pic.twitter.com/Sndbar5M2g
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) January 19, 2024
RIP Sports Illustrated
The covers alone could tell a full story pic.twitter.com/YfFG7PYcn5
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) January 19, 2024
The first ever cover of Sports Illustrated (August 16, 1954). Milwaukee County Stadium. #Braves pic.twitter.com/ydlQYc86YS
— MLB Cathedrals (@MLBcathedrals) January 19, 2024
What’s your favorite Sports Illustrated cover? pic.twitter.com/jWYjM7gD80
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) January 19, 2024
My four favorite Saints covers from Sports Illustrated. There were a lot more (Brees REALLY put us on the map), but these 4 were monumental. pic.twitter.com/ZXTsXBE6AB
— Jono Barnes (@JonoBarnes) January 19, 2024
Seems like it truly is the end of an era.
