The Surprising Facts About Tebow‘s Controversial ’Sexy Jesus‘ ’Crucifix‘ Photo You Probably Didn’t Know
- Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:07am by
Billy Hallowell
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New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow isn’t unaccustomed to controversy. Last year, he was the focus of both praise — and degradation – as a direct result of his public expressions of faith. Tebow’s well-known “Tebowing” prayer stance gained national and international infamy, as we’ve highlighted. He even inspired a line of Jesus jerseys. But this week, the football player is receiving some criticism for a very different reason — the supposed “sexy Jesus” picture that is present inside GQ Magazine. And we’ve found some evidence that suggests not everyone is getting the full story.
As a result of the image (above) that shows Tebow with his arms stretched out and his legs crossed in a similar fashion to Jesus Christ, some critics are lashing out and calling the popular player a “fraud,“ while accusing him of taking ”sacrilegious” actions. The Christian Post has more:
Craig Carton of the “Boomer and Carton” show on WFAN accused Tebow of being a “fraud” based on the photo where Tebow has his arms stretched out and his legs crossed in a similar fashion to Jesus on the cross. The photo is among four featured in GQ’s story, headlined “Have You Accepted Tim Tebow as Your QB and Sunday Savior?”
“A guy that fosters the Good Book, who is everyone’s favorite Christian, to pose like Jesus on the cross with no shirt on sexy time is disgusting … and fraudulent because nobody that believes in it would ever pose like Jesus,” Carton said Tuesday morning on his show.
“Is that not sacrilegious?”
But while critics like Carton are frustrated by the image, there are a few elements worth noting. The picture is old. In fact, it comes from Tebow’s college days when he was the quarterback for the Florida Gators (unfortunately, GQ has it listed under a link on the article that reads “See the Photos from Tim Tebow’s GQ Shoot”).
This, of course, doesn’t dismiss concern or criticism over the image, but it does help to put it into context. It’s not as though Tebow willingly took the image in recent days or months in an effort to spawn controversy. Considering the article’s aforementioned headline, though, it’s clear that GQ was looking to use faith as a hook in the article; the image likely assisted them with this cause.
Here’s just a brief snippet from the GQ piece that showcases what its author, Devin Gordon, had to say about the player (a narrative that certainly fits the picture; caution: language):
Here is where the cult of Tim Tebow departs from the world of measurable fact and enters the realm of religiosity, where every one of his accomplishments, no matter how modest—Oh, my goodness, he beat the deeply shitty Miami Dolphins!—gets transformed into evidence of divine Providence, simply because Tebow says it is. Never mind that 75 percent of all football players credit Jesus after every win. Tebow’s devout Christianity is devoutier than yours. When he thanks Jesus, Jesus winks back.
This, really, is the root of my beef with Tebowmania: It has nothing to do with football. It’s a sales pitch—a sensation built on evangelism, not ability, powered by people who see a chance to turn the NFL into the next front of the culture war. And now that culture war is coming to my team.
Now, for some more context. In further explaining the image, Larry Brown writes, “In one photo Tebow poses on a football field with his arms spread like Jesus Christ on the cross. It turns out the photo was shot while Tebow was in college at the University of Florida, but it was digitally altered to remove Gators signage from the background and made black and white to obscure the Gators colors from Tebow’s pants.” Brown goes on to wonder if the picture was snapped when Tebow may have been younger and more naive.
The New York Post, serving as one example that has used the image in the past, published it back in March 2012. Based on the colors and signage, the changes seem to match Brown’s description:
Carton went on to call Tebow the “biggest Bible thumper in all of sports today” (you can listen to the show here). Regardless of whether this is true, what do you think — does Tebow deserve the criticism he’s receiving for an image that was taken years ago?
(H/T: Sports Grid)






















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Comments (127)
DE OPPRESSO LIBER
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:15amlooks like he was stretching. The turn and bounce.
Report Post »BRONZESTAR
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:57amJust what I was thinking.
Report Post »Nobody knows whats in your heart of hearts.
Let the one with out sin cast the first stone.
AndYetItMoves
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 12:24pmPeople who think of ethics in terms of ‘sin’ are uniformly unintelligent, so I’ll cast the first stone. This pose should be mildly offensive to anyone that recognizes a cult of human sacrifice for what it is.
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 12:38pmI wonder what you’d think if a woman posed like this.
Perhaps he should have given a nod to St. Peter and posed upside down.
Report Post »IsThereADifference
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 12:39pmIt’s just a guy standing there with his shirt off… How is that sexy? I would have to say that in this case the “sexy accusation” was in the eye of the beholder… This is a story for liberal jerk-offs who want to slam on this guy because he is an unashamed Christian. NEXT
Report Post »commandtech
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 1:14pmThe photo is clipped. Tebow is holding a football in each hand. Just another attempt by Godless people to discredit him.
Report Post »Shiroi Raion
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 2:23pmBut the critics have no problem at all when they place halos over Obama‘s head and say he’s perfect, a messiah, and like a god? I noticed that Obama and Trumka also often like to stand in the same pose as Mussolini’s famous picture: looking upwards, nose high in the air, and with an expression that shows that they believe everyone else is beneath them.
Report Post »Dano.50
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 2:53pmAndyetitmoves,
Perhaps I missed some sarcasm or something, but you might want to consider retesting your own iq.
The crucifix is about the concept of “self” sacrifice.
For the benefit of others.
Report Post »winin2012
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 3:00pmAndYetItMoves, Wow, now that is arrogant. Your “uniformly unintelligent” comment explicitly implies your intelligence to be above believer’s in “sin”. So is your intelligence quotion higher than that of genius’s like Edison and Einstein who explicitly subscribed to both the Savior Jesus Christ and the doctrine of sin. There are of multitudes of other highly intelligent individuals, from today and in history, that also believed in the doctrine of sin. Amazing how you dogmatically describe others as being “unintelligent” while demonstrating your own.
Report Post »BlackBeaver
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 4:32pmAndyetitmoves, I agree that ethics and sin are different. I do not agree with your assertion that Christianity is “a cult of human sacrifice”, nor do I find “this pose to be mildly [or terribly] offensive”.
Report Post »It is simply a posed shot, in which he probably has his hands on two tackling dummies, or other supports. It was meant to show off his looks- something magazines like Sports Illustrated seem to think necessary for anyone- male or female- who graces their pages. Too bad so many delight in attaching great significance to such mundane images. Worse, still, are those- like you- who use this as an opportunity to tear down someone’s personal beliefs. Shame (if you know what that means) on you!
PATTY HENRY
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 5:25pmWe are huge GATOR FANS and have been a TEBOW fan for years (from first season College) …I remember when this photos first appeared: He was holding TWO FOOTBALLS.
You anti-Tebow folks need to find something worthwhile to do. You can’t hurt this young man; you can’t sway his followers/fans. Isn’t it too bad that there exists a DECENT, KIND, GIVING, CHRISTIAN man who walks his talk. There are lots of great young people out there, He is one of them. You can’t hurt him, you can’t stop him, you can try to smear him, but we know the truth. Crawl or slither away.
Report Post »jblaze
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 6:01pmAndy and Beaver
Educate yourselves! Sin is the transgression of the law! What Law? Whose law? God’s law of course! ALL of God’s laws! If you do not know God’s laws, how can you judge! And if you do judge, you had better have the authority to make the judgement. For it is written, so shall you be judged!
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 8:20pm@ANDYETITMOVES
You got it right.
Glad I’m not the only person who views Christianity as a cult of human sacrifice.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 9:41pmMethinks too many people take way too many liberties with what is and isn’t sacreligious. Especially considering 99.99% of those declaring something being sacreligious are more sacreligious than Satan.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:52pmBlaze.
Report Post »Please hold these stories until after the election. This is tailored for Axelrod to avoid for 3 seconds to not have to address the issues.
rghtwngcrzy
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:25amDid you notice during Bronco’s games how the cameras were constantly on Tim trying to “catch him” praying? This controversy is entirely media generated – a completely deliberate attempt to mock his faith. There was absolutely NO reason why the cameras had to surround him every time he prayed. ESPN and their ilk were trying to create a controversy for ratings. There is always plenty of other action and other players they could be televising. I remember they even cut away from a touchdown celebration to show him “Tebow-ing.”
Do you realize that after every pro football game (and many college) a group of players, coaches & staff from both teams form a circle and bow their heads in prayer? Rarely will they televise even a second of this.
Tim Tebow is a second string quarterback on a mediocre team. How many second string quarterbacks get this much media coverage? Zero.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 6:54amSo now we can’t stretch out before playing football? You can’t be seen in a pose where you stretch your hamstrings and pin wheel down to touch crossed toes, becaus they could catch you at the stretched arms position and say you’re on a cross? I do Christian yoga (yes, there is such a thing) and how you move your body does not glorify a different diety, or degrade your own. It’s what is in your heart. In christian yoga, you don’t empty your mind (which allows things in that you may not want) but focus on HIM.
Report Post »Myth
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 4:03pmThank you.
Report Post »I didn’t know to what you were referring with “turn and bounce”. Did a Bing search though and found it, the exercise, listed for the Army Rangers physical fitness test. Makes sense. Good catch.
Servant Of YHVH
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 12:51pmI agree with y’all. There are apparently a number of fools out there that are as judgmental as Obama. How do they know that he is not just, as y’all said, turning or even just standing there? I’ve stood and stretched somewhat like that before, I don’t look quite as buffed as that though. Are they saying that if anyone gets into any pose that resembles what they think Jesus may have been in IS A FOOL! This falls into that saying from Mr. T: “I pity the fool”. All we can do is pray for these self righteous people to repent of their judgmentalism and everything else that they have along those lines.
Report Post »GAKnight
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:14amYAWN…… let me know when he beats his wife, shoots somebody or gets shot by somebody……of all the folks in sports that deserve a little critique, it is the anger of those who resent the “rules” of religion as an insult to them that jump at the chance to fawn fake anger and righteousness at a decent young man who needs to have his entire reputation and character destroyed over a “pose” for a picture from his COLLEGE DAYS!?!?!?!
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:12amI hope we see more people doing this than the previous version of Tebowing. http://tebowing.com/
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:09amI hope this pose becomes the new Tebowing for this year!
Report Post »Jesus was not ashamed of dying this way. He engineered it to fulfill prophecy and he accepted the horror of it as necessary to cleanse the sins of the World!
There is nothing sacrilege about the cross or Jesus upon it. THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT.
Tebowing 2012~!
Bobaz
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:07amThe jock sniffers like Boomer Esiason, Craig Carton, Chris Berman, Tony Cornholer and all the other failed athletes that like to pontificate on Tebow’s faith expose themselves as the liberal haters that they have always been.
They hate Tebow for being a Christina. But Tebow, has never killed anyone, or raped anyone, or beat a woman, or head-butted a woman, or thrown a woman down a flight of stairs, or shot himself, or dealt drugs, or has multiple DUI arrests, or has fathered countless children by countless women, or disrespected another player, or used racist remarks, or …. well, you get the idea.
But, these same liberal haters don’t have a single word of criticism for those NFL players – in most cases they are black NFL players – who have raped women, or killed someone, or have multiple DUI’s, or have beat women, or … well, you get the idea.
Liberalism is hate. Liberalism is double standards. Liberalism is hypocrisy.
Report Post »Ridnthstrm
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:49amAmen
Report Post »AndYetItMoves
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 12:21pmActually there are plenty of pro athletes that fit that description (never broke a rule, never disrespected anyone, etc.), the only difference is that they don‘t spend every free moment peddling a religious delusion to fans that aren’t interested. For all his pageantry and window dressing, Tebow is just another smiling face that is willing to terrify children with the threat of torture and hellfire, that wants homosexuals out of American society, that thinks God created us incurably sick and ordered us to be well. He is not a role model for any thinking person.
Report Post »annieoakley
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 1:12pmOr hamstrung or electrocuted a helpless dog. I can never look at football the way I did before Michael Vick. Tim Tebow is a breath of fresh air in a game that really stinks.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 4:38pmAndyetitmoves
Report Post »You were the meat gazer in the locker room at school.
romadave
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:03amWow, It seems GQ was just as out of context as this Blaze Headline,
Off-Duty Cop Hits 4-Year-Old Girl With Motorcycle Then Shoots and Kills Angry Dad
which should have read
Cop breaks arm and leg in crash trying to avoid jaywalking 4-year old, then fires shot to defend self from Angry Dad and Cousin who were savagely beating and kicking him to death.
Maybe GQ should have said ‘See photos from Tebow GQ shoot, along with an ancient photoshopped and cropped image.’
The truth has no agenda.
Report Post »cdavis411
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:16amSo very true!
Report Post »Freebird
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 12:21pmExactly what I thought when I read this article.
“Considering the article’s aforementioned headline, though, it’s clear that GQ was looking to use faith as a hook in the article; the image likely assisted them with this cause.”
Really Blaze,you guys want to go there.How many headlines in THE BLAZE lately have done the same thing.
Seems like Glenn is hiring “tabloid journalists” from the Enquirer to write the headlines on here.
Report Post »funjumper
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:00amWould like to see the entire picture and not the cropped version. What is he doing with his hands? Is he holding up water buckets, or footballs or what. I believe it is cropped by the photographer and/or magazine to give the “Jesus” effect and considering GQ maybe to spawn controversy for Tebow
Report Post »The Jewish Avenger
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:54amAll I care about is his genuinity about his proclamation of his faith.
Does the picture mock Jesus?
No.
Is he human?
Yes.
To err is human, he took a picture in a crucified pose.
Liberals have been mocking the infamous poses and paintings depicting God since I can remember. Clearly, this isn’t one of those people attempting to mock God..
Ironically, If this was a Christian political cartoon of Tebow on the cross and the leaders of the left in Roman centurian gear… it would be an uproar from the left.
But because it inspires Christians thats exactly what is happening except the only ones in an uproar is again, only the leftists..
Did Boston’s demoqueens mock Jesus with their picture that they insisted on hanging in their government building called “Piss Jesus”?
Yes.
Even with a loud protest did they remove it?
No.
Not sure why Tebow did the picture SO MANY YEARS BEFORE THE NFL and persoanlly dont care, the fact that this is actually a talking point of him as a person degrading God is really laughable.
Report Post »TeresaJ
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:08amI “like” your post.
Report Post »ltemp
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:53amNo excuses, if your identifying yourself as a christian you are an example for others. As a christian you choose to give up your own life sacrificing all for the gospel. Tebow is living up to what his understanding of faith is. He is a young man trying to figure things out and the world is there encouraging him to leave his faith. the devil is in his ear “it’s too hard, look at yourself, your not a christian.” The world press is there to help him fall. I like him and hope that he will not give up the direction he is going.
Report Post »TeresaJ
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:52amPeople with glass houses should not throw stones.
When the media actually cares about God, then maybe they can have a voice on what is “sacrilegious.”
For that matter, when they stop lying through their teeth (and photoshop), then maybe they can have a voice on morals and ethics.
Report Post »Whiteout
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:50amJust think of how different the story would be if Tebow was Muslim instead of Christian.
Another example of liberal hypocrisy desperately trying to cut down someone who’s different than them. LEAVE TEBOW ALONE ALREADY!
Report Post »Tim, keep doing what you‘re doing and don’t lose faith!
CherokeeSmiles
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:49amMuch to-do about nothing. The photo has been cropped and doesn’t tell the whole truth. That’s how the media works. I hate sports in general, but especially football; but we need more men like Tebow!
Report Post »OniMan
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:43amwhy do we have to see man nips, there is no reason at all….weak sauce, and an even weaker player..LAME!
Report Post »do_in_it_2
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:38amWe are all to take up our cross daily. Jesus did it without any clothes. Why don’t GQ report on that old news which is the good news.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:35amIf he was covered in tattos and nice long arrest record, the sports media would love him.
Report Post »Spyderco
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:28amAmen.
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 12:56pmOr if he didn’t wipe himself for a week to get out of serving in the military. That and sex with 12 year old girls, right Ted, err, I mean Gonzo?
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 2:12pmAlong with killing dogs like Michael Vick…the immoral media makes me sick.
Report Post »louise
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:34amNothing is sexier than a sexy man of Faith.
Report Post »REETZBEE
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 1:40pmHere, here. Eye candy for the ladies!
Report Post »Average_Joseph
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:32amI guarantee the photo was cropped. His hands are definitely holding something or resting on something (how about if he was holding a football in each hand; makes the context a bit different). It was probably a casual pose that was cut down to what we see now. Leave the kid alone; he’s hurting no one.
Report Post »edcoil
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:39am“some critics” by definition criticize so who cares.
Report Post »SquareHead
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:41amGood observation. Thanks for sharing.
Report Post »termyt
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:27amIt‘s GQ that’s being dishonest here. The piece is an attack on Tebow – when did he ever say that God ordains his wins because he is God’s favorite? When has Tebow claimed that he is a better Christian than the Christians on the opposing team?
Obviously, Tebow’s faith makes Gordon uncomfortable. That is Gordon’s problem and he should keep it separate if he wants to maintain any credibility as a journalist. To photoshop an image taken years ago to make it more relevant today is yellow journalism at it’s darkest.
Report Post »Whiteout
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:46amAmen
Report Post »DSTSS2010
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 4:19pm“credibility as a journalist” ??? I don’t see any connection between journalism and credibility, not in todays world.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:25amI read somewhere that they don’t show his hands because he had weights in them? Can we find the ENTIRE photo?
Report Post »honor007
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:24amWonder if it was expanded to show his hands if he was between walls or holding something? looks weird.
Report Post »Thank you God for Tim Tebow. Amen.
;-)
biohazard23
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:24amI’m sorry, but it‘s not Jesus I’m thinking of when I see that picture…
Report Post »smokie
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 3:59pmHear, hear! Or better yet, Look! Look!
Report Post »I think it’s a beautiful picture.
Tebow has inspired my younger relatives to be in charge of themselves, and to not be afraid of bucking the trend.
Tebow is more beautiful in ways not seen in the photo.
Zipit
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 7:19pmYour a bad bad girl BIO!!! Go Tebow, Go Bronc…oops, Go Je… No can’t bring myself to say that.. Uh, um, oh well, Go Tebow!
Report Post »Landon410
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:24amwell what I’m learning is that we should treat people differently if they are different than you…..
Report Post »Tebow is a Christian, this other guy isn’t so he is treating him differently, ok, so not everyone is the same and we can treat them differently if they are different than us.
Got it!
fancydancy
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:23amOne can’t be married to Mr. Law and Mr. Grace. The man is under grace, not legalism. Why throw out ALL of his good works with one photo that could be interpreted differently by different folks. That’s the sham of liberalism…they can do ANYTHING and it is okay but a Christian must be perfect and there was only one man who could walk on the water and NONE of us are it so give me a break…let the fella be human and rejoice in the good things he is doing. Stop focusing on the negative. Our world needs love and acceptance, not more condemnation. The news is full of that.
Report Post »Just_Us2
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:18amYou mean people from the media took a picture, photo shopped it and then put their own narrative on it for the express purpose of trashing someone’s credibility? Why, that NEVER happens. Shame on Tebow for giving them the time of day.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:15amEnough, who cares about this guy. We’re tired of him.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:23amNot ME! Never tire of Tebow. He’s hot AND a gentleman. Love that.
Report Post »team1blazer
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:29amNo, Ted, we’re tired of you.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:39amSorry to rain on your fantasy. I‘m assuming you’re both women, and I can see how this might PR stunt impress you. He’s probably feeling your pain too.
Report Post »The Jewish Avenger
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 10:59amTed, I just dont think this is the PR stunt you are think of….
It is a PR stunt but its GQ’s taking advantage of a leftist controlled media that cant handle the fact that the majority of the US still have God as their foundation.
Many have ovserved already that he appears to be holding weights or even a football. Questions about the pose increase with the feet and hands cropped.
Just some thoughts…
Report Post »Mr.Bass
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:17amTed,
Tim Teabow has something that you sir will never have, and that is CLASS and INTEGRITY. God bless Tim Teabow for being a Godly man.
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things,[a] and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving,[b] abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:7-8
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 4:52pm@teddrunk
Report Post »Ditto. Skipped reading everything just to post a reply. Tired of hearing about this guy. Couldn’t give a flying #### about football. He could learn a thing from the bible (Matthew 6:5) but he’s to busying pandering to the dumb masses that gobble this crap up.