Esquire magazine uses 9/11 falling man photo to advertise a ‘more stylish commute’

ON this 12th anniversary of 9/11, Esquire magazine reproduced the essay The Falling Man. It’s a picture of man falling to his death from the World Trade Center.

Do you remember this photograph? In the United States, people have taken pains to banish it from the record of September 11, 2001. The story behind it, though, and the search for the man pictured in it, are our most intimate connection to the horror of that day.

Dwelling on one photograph of a man hurtling towards his demise is unpleasant. If you find him, then what – get his loved ones to sign the photo and explain how they feel seeing it?

But then it gets worse. Esquire uses the picture to advertise a feature entitled: “Making Your Morning Commute Mote Stylish”.