In a story on a circumcision botch settlement for a Malaysian Muslim boy, Yahoo News refused to show the boy or botch, instead making the bizarre choice to use a Renaissance painting for their thumbnail.
On social media, Intact America criticized the article, asking:
Why is it that an article about the botched circumcision of a 10-year old Muslim boy features an Italian Renaissance painting of the Christ Child?!? Attitudes would change a lot faster if we could show photos of botched genital surgeries.
The story lists “Coconuts KL” as the author, which appears to link to a “lifestyle website” that “produces in-depth coverage of what’s happening in Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bali, Yangon, and beyond.”
The story appears to be stolen or reprinted from a Coconuts KL article, which also lists no human author and uses the same thumbnail.
Human rights activists have suggested that these media tactics are used to minimize the suffering of infants during circumcision.