XXL editor hip hops across the ad:editorial divide

It must be that a) Canadian editors don't do this or b) Canadian advertisers don't want them to, but we rarely if ever see a tempest such as the one kicked up by XXL magazine in the States, where editor Elliott Wilson appears in a back cover ad for Rocawear, clasping a copy of XXL to his chest.

Various commentators, including American Society of Magazine Editors executive director Marlene Kahan, have said that the appearance violates the ad:editorial guidelines of ASME, which say no person on an editorial staff should ever be involved in producing or participating in advertising.

Blogger Paul Conley says on the site Prohiphop.com:

The photo in question is offensive. And in the world of news or serious journalism, it would clearly be a violation of editorial ethics. … As far as I know, no editor-in-chief in the history of magazine publishing has ever appeared as a spokesperson for products sold by an advertiser.”

For his part, Wilson says it was OK, because he didn't wear Rocawear clothing in the ad (?!) and the ad didn't compromise the editorial integrity of XXL.

"Bottom line, this is a one-time only ad," he told Folio. "I’m not wearing Rocawear clothes in it and I wasn’t compensated for it. While other ads in their campaign will be all over the place, this one will only be seen on the cover of XXL."