Rolling Stone's 5 Most Controversial Covers

This 1970 cover was widely criticized for humanizing the renowned serial killer, who was already well on his way towards becoming an American celebrity. Charles Manson reportedly agreed to be interviewed for the award-winning cover story "because he wanted his album plugged."

The Rolling Stone's cover has known its fair share scantily-clad ladies (and gents for that matter), but Spears was just 17-years-old when she posed for photographer David LaChapelle in this satiny scene. The pop star's antics may have become more scandalous over the years, but this suggestive cover was one of the first hints that the bubblegum pop start was "not that innocent" after all.

Outraged readers were out for blood when this revealing cover hit stands. Inside, the actors' interviews were just as racy, covering topics like tongue rings, virginal blood, and the not-so-subtle metaphorical meaning of fang penetration.

The self-proclaimed "Yeezus" has clearly never been shy about using religious imagery in reference to himself, but this cover (which pays homage to a classic Esquire issue featuring Mohammed Ali) still had Christian groups up in arms. Maybe they didn't like the part of the interview when West revealed his personal cross to bear: an addiction to porn.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz remembers asking both Lennon and Ono to strip down for this shot, but only Lennon felt comfortable doing so. The result was more sweet than sexy, but was still deemed inappropriate by many. The image is made all the more beautifully haunting by the fact that it was taken just hours before Lennon was shot and killed outside of his Manhattan apartment.