U2’s Bono named Woman of the Year
U2 singer Bono has been named one of the Women of the Year by Glamour Magazine.
In an unprecedented move, Bono is the first male recipient of the honour for his variety of charity work including the Poverty Is Sexist campaign aimed at helping the world’s poorest women.
Appearing to be as dumbfounded as everyone else to receive the recognition, 56-year-old Bono - real name Paul Hewson - said: “I’m sure I don’t deserve it. But I’m grateful for this award as a chance to say the battle for gender equality can’t be won unless men lead it along with women.
“We’re largely responsible for the problem, so we have to be involved in the solutions.”
> U2 frontman Bono is the first man ever to be named in the list of Glamour Magazine’s annual ‘Women Of The Year’. #U2 pic.twitter.com/o5HCeoOZS6 > > — Lemonbeats (@LemonbeatsCHNL) November 1, 2016
Justifying Bono’s inclusion in the Women of the Year list, Glamour Magazine wrote: “(Bono) has an extraordinary talent not just for music, but for tackling problems that seem intractable—and making mighty gains.
“By establishing Poverty Is Sexist, Bono is making it clear that powerful men can, and should, take on these deep-rooted issues.”
Despite the decision receiving a lot of flak on social media, the magazine's editor-in-chief Cindi Leive says Bono was a worthy recipient.
"There are so many men who really are doing wonderful things for women these days. Some men get it and Bono is one of those guys," she said.
Also honoured are Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi and Alicia Garza, the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, French finance minister Christine Lagarde, anti-Isis campaigner Nadia Murad, plus-size model Ashley Graham, fashion designer Miuccia Prada and Stanford sexual assault case survivor Emily Doe.