Toscani Uses Reagan Caricature as AIDS Comment

Oliviero Toscani, whose ads for fashion firm Benetton have shocked millions, has done it again with a fake obituary of former President Ronald Reagan and a picture with his face retouched as if he suffered from AIDS.

The “obituary” and picture are published as a sarcastic editorial attacking Reagan in the latest edition of Colors, the Benetton magazine of which photographer Toscani is editorial director.

The picture shows lesions on Reagan’s face; AIDS victims are susceptible to many diseases, including skin cancers, because the virus weakens their immune systems.

The fake obituary in a special edition of the magazine on the subject of AIDS sarcastically praises Reagan’s “quick and decisive response to the AIDS epidemic early in his presidency.”

Toscani told the Turin newspaper La Stampa he ran the retouched picture and fake obituary because he said Reagan disregarded alarms about the AIDS threat.

Toscani has created Benetton’s most controversial ads, including images of buttocks stamped with a logo saying “HIV Positive,” and of a priest kissing a nun.